Hope Springs Eternal: The Holocaust Project
Hope Springs Eternal: The Holocaust Project is a collaboration between Vision Together 2025, The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance, and the Arts Coalition of the Alleghenies to bring a unique educational opportunity to the region. Taking place in 2024, the project’s purpose was to help people to learn about a tragic time in world history and to recognize and commemorate the resilience of humanity.
Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance is proud to be the management partner for this special project. To learn more and follow all of the events throughout the project click here.
In 2026 – Currently on Exhibit
“Hope Springs Eternal: The Holocaust Project” continues in 2026 with an internationally acclaimed exhibition, “Let Me Be Myself — The Life Story of Anne Frank.” The exhibition is hosted at the Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center on Broad Street in the Cambria City section of Johnstown from March through June 2026.
Developed by the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina, this exhibition tells the story of Anne Frank against the backdrop of the Holocaust and World War II. Using large-scale imagery and poignant narrative, the display traces Anne’s life from her birth in 1929 to her death at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945. To provide a comprehensive historical context, the panels also explore the rise of the Nazi Party and the systematic persecution of the Jewish people.
Heritage Johnstown, which operates the Heritage Discovery Center, hasaugmented the exhibition by including World War II artifacts donated by local residents. This builds upon Heritage Johnstown’s long-standing commitment to exploring Jewish history and the Holocaust, connecting Anne Frank’s global story to the personal histories of families in the Laurel Highlands.
For more information about “Let Me Be Myself – The Life Story of Anne Frank” click here.
For more information regarding gallery hours, group tours, or student docent opportunities, please or contact the Heritage Discovery Center at (814) 539-1889 or click here.
Special Event Coming Up!
“One Family’s Experience of the Holocaust” – presented by Susan Hawkins
Date: May 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Location: Heritage Discovery Center, 201 6th Ave, Johnstown, PA 15906
While exploring the international exhibition “Let Me Be Myself — The Life Story of Anne Frank,” hear a powerful personal perspective on the history that shaped our world.
The daughter of Hungarian Holocaust survivors Margit Haas and David Robinson, Susan Hawkins shares her family’s harrowing journey of survival and their eventual emigration to the United States. In this illustrated presentation, Susan connects her parents’ lived experiences to the broader themes of the Anne Frank exhibition, exploring how historical trauma echoes through generations.
Due to space considerations, registration is necessary to attend. To learn more and to register click here.
Fiddler on the Roof in 2024
A centerpiece of Hope Springs Eternal: The Holocaust Project, was a large scale production of the musical, Fiddler on the Roof. This exciting and historic project was led by a professional theater staff including director, Paul Seymour, assistant director, Wendy Stewart, music director, Mari Grace Lingenfelter, choreographer, Sierra Gdula, stage manager, Cathy Seymour, assistant stage manager, Tara Brodish, costume designer, Judy Bingler, set designer, Al Pelliccioni and production manager, Tom Brubaker.
This community theater production took place on Friday November 1, 2024 at 7:30 pm and on Saturday November 2, 2024 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. This theater experience was truly a “once in a lifetime” opportunity because of the scope and importance of the entire project!
Click here to see a calendar of past events that were a part of “Hope Springs Eternal: The Holocaust Project”.
