“Courage to Act”: A child-friendly Holocaust exhibition

How do you tell 9- to 12-year-olds about the rescue of Danish Jews during the Holocaust—without overwhelming them, but also without sugarcoating it? The exhibition “Courage to Act” at the Museum of Jewish Heritage showed how sensitive storytelling, mixed media staging, and immersive scenography can make complex history tangible. Animated timelines, a walk-in fish market with “Pepper’s Ghosts,” and a 70% model of the rescue ship Gerda III encouraged visitors to develop their own moral stance.

The exhibition made targeted use of immersive media—without drifting into pure “experience.” Scenography, illustration, media, and text served a sensitive narrative. Its responsible handling of trauma, empathy, and the scope for action of young visitors makes “Courage to Act” a reference project for anyone dealing with difficult topics in the exhibition space.