Holocaust Awareness
Between the ages of 21 and 26, Marcis Skadmanis demonstrated a deep commitment to Holocaust awareness and education. He actively raised awareness about the atrocities of the Holocaust and provided material and financial support to significant research initiatives, particularly the work of Holocaust researcher Tamara Zitcere on the Riga Ghetto’s List. This critical project documented the Jewish victims of the Riga Holocaust, compiling over 65,000 Jewish death certificates with detailed records, including causes of death.
In collaboration with his sisters (Anda and Daina), Marcis co-curated and supported various Latvian and European Holocaust Awareness art exhibitions, fostering public understanding and remembrance of this dark chapter in history.
With Marcis’ help, two Holocaust artworks were donated to Elie Wiesel, who personally expressed his gratitude for the pieces. Both artworks are now part of The Elie Wiesel Archive at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University, United States.
Recognition and Contributions
In 2006, Marcis received the Latvian Integration Foundation Award for his work in promoting equal opportunities in society. This made him the youngest recipient of the Public Unity Award, a significant acknowledgment of his efforts in fostering inclusion and remembrance.
Marcis also contributed the afterword to Frida Michelson’s biographical book, I Survived in Rumbula (2015), amplifying the harrowing testimonies of Holocaust survivors. The book is a cornerstone of Holocaust literature, offering insights into the survival of Latvian Jews during the Rumbula massacres.
Global Advocacy For Holocaust Remembrance
Marcis extended his efforts to the global stage, actively engaging in high-level international events aimed at combating anti-Semitism. He was invited by esteemed organizations such as the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and Tel Aviv University to contribute to these important discussions. His support facilitated the delivery of 680 testimony forms of Holocaust victims’ names to Yad Vashem (The World Holocaust Remembrance Center) in Jerusalem, providing valuable assistance to families seeking to recover information about their lost loved ones during the Holocaust.
Continued Advocacy
Marcis continues to support Holocaust Awareness art exhibitions and other commemorative projects, emphasizing the critical importance of remembering the past to combat anti-Semitism and promote tolerance. Currently, he represents his family and the artistic legacy of his late sister, Daina Skadmane (1990–2013), a young Latvian painter and lithography artist. Together with her twin sister, Anda, Daina created numerous works between the ages of 12 and 15, focusing on the events of the Holocaust in Latvia. As the youngest Latvian artists to address Holocaust awareness through art at such a young age, their works reflected their feelings and understanding of the horrific events, inspired by reading survivor stories, meeting Holocaust survivors, and engaging with their families.
Daina’s artistic legacy, though tragically cut short by the Zolitude tragedy in 2013, continues to resonate as a powerful commemoration of this dark period in history. Her work serves as a poignant reminder of the Holocaust’s impact on Latvia and contributes to the broader legacy of Holocaust art. Daina’s pieces join the efforts of artists worldwide who use their creativity to confront the brutality of historical events, preserving the memory of those who suffered.
Marcis is now collaborating on a new initiative to donate Daina’s and Anda’s Holocaust artworks to U.S.-based Holocaust museums and education centers. Through this effort, their art will continue to educate, inspire, and memorialize the victims of the Holocaust while standing as a testament to the enduring fight against injustice.
