Our Freedom: Then and Now is a compelling exhibition and companion podcast series created by a cohort of young artists and professionals.
The Exhibition■
Our Freedom: Then and Now presents a moving collection of artistic expressions created by participants as part of a nationwide project involving 60 libraries and arts centres. Guided by artist Adam Kammerling, the group explored personal and family histories to honour Holocaust survivors and remember relatives who did not survive, while reflecting on how subsequent generations live with and respond to this legacy.
Through their creative works, participants engage with themes of memory, resilience, and the responsibility to ensure the stories and names of those lost are never forgotten.
This free exhibition offers a powerful, multi-generational perspective on remembrance, identity, and the enduring impact of the Holocaust.
The exhibition will run from 23 November - 10 December at JW3.
Discover the stories behind the Our Freedom: Then and Now project, a nationwide initiative that will inspire the exhibition. Guided by artist Adam Kammerling, participants share their creative process, reflect on family histories, and explore what it means to be 3rd generation after the Holocaust. Through their stories and art, they reflect on the importance of freedom, its meaning, its fragility, and the responsibility to preserve it.
Hosted by Thamar Barnett, Gianina Dwek and Adam Kammerling, each episode dives into memory, identity, and creativity, asking: what does freedom then, and now really mean?
Project Background■
Our Freedom: Then and Now is a creative project that invited young people aged 18-35 to explore how the Holocaust is remembered across generations. It marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War -- a moment that meant different things to different people -- and reflects on how freedom and community resonate uniquely with each of us today.
Over several months, participants worked with professional artists to create a powerful memory piece, a personal installation that tells the story of someone affected by the Holocaust. Using photos, audio, documents, and personal objects, they brought these narratives to life in a unique display or sound work, culminating in the exhibition and a companion podcast series.
Beyond the exhibition, the project helped participants develop valuable skills in:
- Storytelling: Communicating complex histories with creativity and care.
- Podcasting: Crafting compelling audio narratives.
- Exhibition Design: Understanding the art of presenting engaging displays.
Our Freedom: Then and Now is a part of a new, UK-wide arts and creative program that produced 60 new pieces of work reflecting on what 'Our Freedom' means to local communities. The program is delivered by Future Arts Centres in partnership with Libraries Connected and Open Eye Gallery, with public funding from the UK Government through Arts Council England.
