The HOLO-VOICES project at Zeche Zollverein gives Holocaust survivors a voice for eternity
29.01.2026 – On the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Ina Brandes, Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, opened a new interactive place of remembrance and encounter at Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site: The HOLO-VOICES project gives Holocaust survivors a voice for eternity. With the help of state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) and hologram technology, the original recordings of five Holocaust survivors are presented photorealistically as a three-dimensional hologram. Visitors can get in touch directly with the survivors, ask them questions, and enter into an interaction. In this way, the personal stories of the Holocaust survivors are preserved with a clear mission for future generations: Never again is now!
One of the Holocaust survivors who will be shown as a hologram at Zollverein is Eva Weyl. The 90-year-old, who attended the opening as a guest of honor, said: “Modern technology with AI is fantastic. In this way, I can help to preserve history. To young people in particular, I would like to say: you must know the past in order to help preserve peace. Help against intolerance, against disrespect and against degradation. And talk about what you will learn at HOLO-VOICES. Tell your parents, talk about it at home – and be human!”
The Krupp Foundation bears a special responsibility that arises from its history. The engagement in projects of culture of remembrance as well as German-Jewish understanding has been an integral part of the foundation’s work since the foundation was founded: Since 1968, the foundation has been supporting 300 projects in education, science, art, culture and sports.
“The HOLO-VOICES project is particularly close to our hearts because it enables young people to experience history first-hand in an impressive way and to derive responsible action for the future. The Krupp Foundation has always seen it as part of its mission to keep the culture of remembrance alive and to make a contribution to tolerance and understanding,” says Prof. Ursula Gather, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Krupp Foundation.
HOLO-VOICES is supported by the accompanying exhibitions “Ask for!” („Frag nach!“) and “Underground. Under duress” („Unter Tage. Unter Zwang“). The project and the exhibitions will be open from 28 January and can be visited free of charge daily from 12 noon to 6 pm.
HOLO-VOICES is a project of the Ministry of Culture and Science of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Technical University of Dortmund. The project was funded by the RAG-Stiftung, the Krupp Foundation and the Brost-Foundation. HOLO-VOICES was supported by the Zollverein Foundation, the German Exile Archive 1933 –1945 of the German National Library and the Zweitzeugen e.V..