Members

Call for Members: Join the ESHEM Network

The European Sites of Holocaust Memory (ESHEM) is a pan-European network connecting people and organisations that safeguard historical Holocaust sites. Through peer exchange, shared visibility, and collaboration, the network will strengthen its members' roles in research, education, and commemoration, at a time when responsibility for preserving Holocaust memory increasingly rests with sites and their custodians.

On February 2026, ESHEM launched its first Open Call for Members. Throughout 2026, the ESHEM Steering Committee will award membership to the first 25-30 sites, reflecting geographic, historical, and typological diversity, and creating a framework for meaningful mutual learning and support. The network will continue to grow in the following years, welcoming additional sites to join ESHEM.

ESHEM is designed to support meaningful exchange and mutual learning. Smaller and larger sites, well-established institutions, and less-resourced initiatives alike are encouraged to apply, as each brings different perspectives, experiences, and needs, and each stands to gain something different from participation in the network.

Why apply?

As an ESHEM Network Member, you will:

Become part of a European community of practice connecting custodians of Holocaust sites,
Gain visibility and recognition through the ESHEM platform and engage in EU-level communication and dialogue, including exchanges with European institutions,
Participate in peer learning, capacity-building, and collaborative activities,
Contribute to shaping shared approaches to Holocaust remembrance,
Receive official recognition of membership, including an ESHEM commemorative plaque installed at your site.

What does membership mean?

ESHEM membership is both an opportunity and a commitment. Members are expected to:

Uphold historical accuracy, ethical standards, and EU values,
Actively participate in network activities and exchanges (ESHEM will cover participation costs related to network-organised activities, where applicable)
Engage in communication with the network and share practices, experiences, and insights with peers
Contribute, according to capacity, to collective learning and dialogue.
If you are responsible for, or working with, an eligible site located in an EU Member State or one of other eligible countries listed in the Open Call Terms of Reference, and your work aligns with ESHEM’s mission, we warmly encourage you to apply.
Before applying, please consult the full Open Call Terms of Reference. Submit your application by email to contact-eshemgopa [dot] eu (contact-eshem[at]gopa[dot]eu), with the required attachments, no later than 31 March 2026, 11:59 PM CET.

Join our ESHEM Open Call Q&A Session

Do you have questions about applying to join the ESHEM network? Join our online Q&A session on 5 March 2026 at 14:00 UTC+1 to learn more about the application process, eligibility criteria, and required documents. The ESHEM Secretariat will be available to answer your questions and provide guidance for prospective applicants.

Register here: Q&A Session - Open Call

FAQ

What kinds of sites are eligible?

For the purposes of the ESHEM network, a Holocaust site is defined as a geographically identifiable location, or group of interconnected locations, that holds direct historical, cultural, or memorial significance related to the persecution, deportation, and genocide of Jews during the Shoah. These are sites where Jews were persecuted or killed by Nazis, their collaborators, and accomplices, often also marked by the genocide of the Roma and Sinti, and crimes committed against other victim groups. This definition includes, but is not limited to: ghettos, concentration camps, killing centres and other killing sites, transit points, and places of resistance, hiding, and rescue — both commemorated and uncommemorated. It also covers contemporary institutions and initiatives (such as museums and memorials) that are physically located at these sites or serve as their custodians.

While the ESHEM network’s focus is on sites of persecution, deportation, and genocide of Jews during the Shoah, many of which were also the scene of other crimes, including the genocide of the Roma and Sinti and violence against other groups, the network may additionally award membership to sites exclusively related to the persecution and genocide of the Roma and Sinti.

Eligible sites include:

Sites of Persecution, Segregation, Imprisonment, and Mass Murder,
Sites of Resistance, Escape, Rescue, and Survival,
Sites of Burial and Rest of Holocaust Victims,
Sites of Life and Loss Affected by the Holocaust.

Holocaust-related institutions are eligible only if they are physically located at, and directly connected to, such historical sites. See full list of eligibility criteria in the Open Call Terms of Reference.

How does the membership awarding process work?

Applications are reviewed in several stages:

Verification of eligibility against the eligibility criteria set out in the Open Call Terms of Reference
Assessment by the ESHEM Steering Committee against the membership criteria set out in the Open Call Terms of Reference
Formal approval by the European Commission
Announcement of results

Due to the phased nature of network-building, not all eligible applications can be accommodated in each round.

How many sites will join the network?

At least 50 sites will be welcomed into the ESHEM Network during the 2026–2027 period, across several application rounds. Each round brings together a limited number of members, allowing the network to grow in a balanced way and to reflect diversity across countries, historical contexts, and site types.

What if my site is eligible but not included in the first round?

If your site meets the eligibility criteria but cannot be included in the first round, it may be considered in a subsequent round. ESHEM builds its membership gradually to support meaningful exchange and balanced representation across geographies, histories, and institutional contexts.

How do we apply?

Applications must be submitted by filling out the designated template and emailing it to contact-eshemgopa [dot] eu (contact-eshem[at]gopa[dot]eu).

In the template applicants are asked to respond to a short set of questions and provide documentation as specified in the Open Call Terms of Reference, including materials confirming eligibility and custodianship. Applications that do not meet these formal requirements cannot be reviewed. Some applicants may be asked follow up questions regarding their applications or receive a site visit.

What documents are required?

Applicants will need to provide basic documentation and information demonstrating:

The site’s historical relevance
Legal status and custodianship
Institutional responsibility for the site

Complete and detailed requirements are outlined in the Open Call Terms of Reference, which all applicants must consult before applying.

Is there a membership fee?

Participation in the Network is free of charge; no membership fee applies. Please note, however, that membership also involves a commitment of time and staff resources, which remain the responsibility of the member site.

Who can we contact if we have further questions?

If your question is not answered in this FAQ or in the Open Call Terms of Reference, please contact the ESHEM Secretariat at contact-eshemgopa [dot] eu (contact-eshem[at]gopa[dot]eu).