Preserving Memories of War Captivity

International Conference
Preserving Memories of War Captivity:
Legacy, Museums and Repositories

Please note:
This event takes place at
Center for Italian Modern Art
(421 Broome St.)
and on Zoom

RSVP here to attend in person or via Zoom

The event consists of a two-day international conference where archivists, historians, and museum experts will converge to explore their research endeavors. Delving into the intricate tapestry of WWII Italian captivity across Italy, the United Kingdom, the US, and Australia, the event promises illuminating discussions on preservation, storytelling, and cataloging efforts.

Three hybrid panels will seamlessly blend in-person presentations with virtual participation via Zoom. Experts will unveil their curated collections, pioneering projects, and share insights into the meticulous curation of special collections, museums, and institutions intertwined with the cultural and material legacies of Italian POWs.

This event is part of a series on “Memory, Memories, and Memorialization of WWII Italian Captivity”, organized by Elena Bellina (New York University) and Giorgia Alù (The University of Sydney), and co-sponsored by NYU Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, The University of Sydney, The John D. Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies (CUNY), and the Center for Italian Modern Art (CIMA). The series aims to investigate how WWII Italian POWs have narrated their long captivity experiences, as well as how these narratives have been recollected and memorialized in Italy, America, Australia, Asia, and Africa.

The dates of these events are particularly meaningful because they will take place right before April 25 in New York and in Europe and on April 25 in Australia, a date that is particularly relevant in Italy and in Australia in relation to the end of World War II. In Italy, April 25 or Liberation Day commemorates the victory of the Italian Resistance Movement over Nazi-Fascism. In Australia and New Zealand, April 25 or ANZAC Day is a National Day of Remembrance that commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars and peacekeeping operations, with particular reference to WWI and WWII.