Restoring the Memory of It

events Programme

In October 2024, a participatory event was held to commemorate the Great Synagogue in Chrzanów, whose history, although forgotten, was once an integral part of the life of the Jewish community of this city. The event was attended by students from many schools in Chrzanów County, local authorities, cultural institutions and residents.

As part of the project "Restoring the memory of it", visual artist Anna Schapiro - together with students from schools in Chrzanów County - symbolically marked the boundaries of the synagogue using natural, ecological earth pigments. The action aimed to restore the memory of the synagogue, demolished in 1973, on the orders of the then authorities, and to make the younger generation aware of the role it played as the center of Jewish religious and cultural life.
The outline of the synagogue, fixed in the urban space, was visible until the pigments were naturally washed away by rain, wind or snow. We hope that the memory of it will remain in the consciousness of contemporary residents for longer.
Anna Schapiro often refers to forgotten histories of places and communities in her work. Through this initiative, together with local youth, she restored an important element of Chrzanów's multicultural heritage, co-creating a space for reflection on the city's past.

Special thanks are due to the Chrzanów Commune and Deputy Mayor Jolanta Zubik for their patronage and participation. The event was possible thanks to the support of MOKSiR Chrzanów, the Museum in Chrzanów and the generous contribution of ecological pigments from Kremer Pigmente GmbH & Co. KG.

The event effectively brought historical memory into the present, engaging youth in meaningful dialogue and artistic expression to celebrate the Jewish heritage of Chrzanów.