The Vale of Glamorgan Council will mark this year's Holocaust Memorial Day with a series of light displays and online messages.

The Council's Arts Development service is working in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to involve the local community with a community arts engagement project. A special workshop aimed at school pupils has been devised by conflict artist and teacher, Nicola Tucker.

Holocaust Memorial Day is observed around the world on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Each year across the UK, thousands of people come together to learn more about the past genocide and take action to create a safer future.

Last year, the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a special event was hosted at Art Central Gallery to showcase an interactive exhibition of historic information and art works on the subject.

Unfortunately, due to Coronavirus restrictions, this year respects will have to be paid in a different way.

Be the light in the darkness is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2021, which is a call to action for everyone marking HMD to reflect on the depths that humanity can sink to but also to think about ways that you can 'be the light' such as resistance, acts of solidarity, rescue and illuminating truths.

A national commemorative ceremony will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 27 January, anyone wishing to view this can register online at: https://www.hmd.org.uk/take-part-in-holocaust-memorial-day/marking-holocaust-memorial-day-online/

Cllr Neil Moore, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: "Although we cannot commemorate this event in the way we usually would, by gathering at Art Central Gallery for a special exhibition, it was important for us as a local authority to light local landmarks and show our support for this annual commemoration.

"Although we are in the midst of a global pandemic, it is important for us all to pause and reflect on a part of history that we must never forget."