CINCINNATI – The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education (CHHE) announced its plans to call Union Terminal its new home when the building fully reopens following its historic restoration in fall 2018
CHHE exists to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. Founding, built and forever inspired by Jewish survivors, CHHE educates teachers, students and community members about the Holocaust and its lessons. Each year, CHHE touches the lives of more than 100,000 individuals in the greater Cincinnati community through its permanent exhibit, traveling exhibits, outreach programming and educator workshops.
CHHE’s success has compelled the leadership to look towards expansion, having outgrown its current space at the Rockwern Academy in Kenwood, which CHHE has called home since 2009. Beginning in the fall of 2018, CHHE will move into Union Terminal, where it will occupy nearly 12,000 square feet of space on the mezzanine and lower levels. A portion of that space will host an expanded version of their powerful exhibition Mapping Our Tears , with the remainder of the space dedicated to a resource center, office and collections space.
“Since we opened our doors in 2000, the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education has been a place of remembrance and education for the Greater Cincinnati community. It is a testament to the survivors that CHHE embarks on this historic relocation and expansion,” said Sarah Weiss, executive director of the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education. “CHHE is thrilled to be a part of a prominent Cincinnati landmark. This unique partnership will be the first of its kind in the United States, putting Cincinnati on the map for bringing the lessons of the Holocaust into the civic conversation.”
The move downtown and into the home of Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) will also increase CHHE’s visitor traffic, allowing it to have a greater impact with the increased visitation. It also makes CHHE and CMC neighbors, a benefit for two institutions who have worked together on several projects, including most recently during CMC’s 1940s Weekend in August and in 2015’s Unlocking the Gates of Auschwitz: 70 Years Later.
“We are pleased to welcome the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education as neighbors within Union Terminal. This is an opportunity to fully utilize space within Union Terminal for broader community impact and increased educational experiences,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “We look forward to working collaboratively to share the strength of our history collections and exhibit design resources to strengthen each other’s mission and to enrich the community in the process.”
“The work of the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education is very important,” said George Vincent, Union Terminal Corporation board member. “We’re excited to welcome them to Union Terminal and hope that in doing so, it can reach an even larger number, both locally and beyond, providing education on the lessons of the Holocaust and challenging us to stand up against injustice.”
This historic move will require CHHE to embark on a capital campaign to create a transformative exhibit experience and ensure all the rich programming continue in CHHE’s new home. To ensure a successful capital campaign, CHHE is thrilled to announce that Arna and Bobby Fisher will chair the campaign. Their leadership will ensure this vision becomes a reality for our community. The capital campaign will be implemented in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org