EIU Media Relations

Eastern Illinois University to Host Traveling Holocaust Exhibit in Honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day

News from the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation
Dated December 30, 2025

(Champaign, IL) --  The Auschwitz Experience in the Art of Prisoners, a traveling exhibit about the Holocaust, will be displayed in the West Reading Room at the iconic Booth Library on the Eastern Illinois Campus, located at 600 Lincoln Ave in Charleston, IL from January 11th to January 29th, 2026. 

The exhibit, created by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland, features artwork by 12 Holocaust survivors who documented their experiences in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, the largest German Concentration and extermination camp during WWII. Visitors will be able to see these profound pieces of art, which include 60 paintings and drawings displayed thematically on 24-panels, in docent-led small groups or independently.

This will mark the second year that the Booth Library has partnered with the CUJF Holocaust Education Center to host a traveling Holocaust exhibit surrounding International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th. The two organizations hope to continue this partnership as an annual tradition, seeking to expand Holocaust education opportunities and develop an atmosphere of tolerance and community amongst Central Illinois students.

Students have the amazing opportunity to serve as volunteer docents at the exhibit - no prior experience is needed! This experience gives students a chance to complete service hours while sharing deeply meaningful content with the community. Volunteer docent training will be held virtually prior to the exhibit. Click HERE for the docent sign up link. 

The exhibit will be open to the public during the following days and times: 

• Sunday - Thursday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

• Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

We invite you to attend these accompanying events, with more events to be announced next month.

• Sunday, January 11th at 12:00 PM - Exhibit officially opens to the public with Dr. Brian Kahn.

• To Be Confirmed: Thursday, January 16th, 2026 at 4:00 PM - Dr. William Gingold: Holocaust Survivor.

• Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 1:00 PM - International Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony with remarks from EIU President Jay Gatrell. Press are encouraged to attend.

This exhibition is in partnership with the CUJF Holocaust Education Center (HEC) and the Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University. Group and classroom tours may be arranged by contacting the HEC by email at hec@cujf.org or by phone at 217-367-9872. For more information, visit www.cujf.org/hec