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Free spring exhibition programming and events throughout the month of April.

Exhibition Lecture – Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 PM
In Conversation, Debórah Dwork and Elise Loehnen
Join us for an engaging evening of exploration and insight as renowned
Holocaust historian Debórah Dwork engages in a conversation about the work of American Quaker, Jewish, and Unitarian relief organizations with Elise Loehnen. They will discuss the importance of memory and storytelling, and the invaluable lessons we can learn from history. Pre-order books by Debórah Dwork and Elise Loehnen for pick-up at the Strauss Performing Arts Center on April 14. This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required. RSVP Today!

Art Making – Saturday, April 18, 12 PM

United: A Collaborative Bak 

Join us in creating a community banner. Think of things that make you hopeful and paint them on a canvas. All materials provided. This is a FREE event led by UNO students, but due to limited seating preregistration is required.

All Museum programming is FREE and open to the public, but due to limited seating, preregistration is required. RSVP Today!

There is still time to see the current exhibition - open until June 28.

Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center is a space where art is the gateway to a conversation on human rights, Holocaust education, and genocide. The Spring 2026 exhibition, Justice and Hope, explores how artists Samuel Bak, Dinh Q. Lê, Mladen Miljanović, Serge Nitegeka, and Maja Ruznic use intertwining personal narrative and historical facts to commemorate conflicts and denounce humanity’s inability to forgo violence. The exhibition poses questions on reconciliation and how we might learn from history to build better futures. 

Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of Justice and Hope and accompanying educational programs and events.

K-12 Education

Student Reflections

On January 27, 2026, middle school students from Bellevue Public Schools' High Ability Learners and Diversity Club visited the Museum in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. During their visit, students toured the Museum and participated in a number of activities to foster conversations about the artwork, artists, and themes of Justice and Hope. Students also had the opportunity to listen to Samuel Bak speak live about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor and artist via an online event.

Following the tour, students were invited to write a personal reflection on an artwork that resonated with them. To bring these perspectives to life, several students recorded their reflections, and they are available on display at the Museum now through June 28. Visit the exhibition today to experience these powerful stories for yourself!

Museum Spotlight

Meet Lauren Foster - Business and Administrative Manager

As a Creighton University alumna with a B.A. in Business Leadership Studies and an A.A. in Sign Language Interpreting, I am currently dedicated to advancing my professional expertise within the University of Nebraska at Omaha system. What I love most about working at the Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center is the opportunity to think strategically—merging my passion for community development with the Museum’s mission to create sustainable administrative and financial systems. It’s incredibly rewarding to lead the 'behind-the-scenes' operations, from donor engagement to data management, knowing these efforts ensure our work is impactful and help the Museum’s reach grow within the campus and beyond. Three facts about me: I am deeply committed to civic leadership and currently serve as the Chair of the City of Omaha Parks, Recreation, and Public Property Commission. I am a graduate of Leadership Omaha Class 42 and am passionate about championing accessibility standards that exceed the status quo in all public spaces. Most recently, I find joy in helping honor Omaha’s maritime legacy through my role on the USS Omaha Submarine Memorial Action Committee.

Favorite Bak: Close By is my favorite Bak artwork because of its incredible sense of movement; rather than a still, divine figure, I see Lady Justice as a machine weathered by human conflict, requiring heavy industrial structures just to keep operating. I’m particularly drawn to the halo suspended by wires and the manufactured metal wings, which emphasize the work involved in maintaining justice. Interestingly, the blue-and-white figure evokes a birthday cake to me—a stoic reminder as we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary that Bak's symbols evolve with our era. Drawing inspiration from the film The Mask, I see the fabric pulling the mask toward her face not just as a blindfold, but as a symbol of a powerful transformation that is Close By. For me, it suggests a persistent hope that all this mechanical effort and complex supportive structure will eventually yield a return in investment - a total restoration of our justice systems for all people.

Free Audio Tour

The Museum mobile tour is back, offering a free audio tour available for visitors in English, Spanish, and French. Please bring your headphones and a smart device to scan a QR code at each stop.

Guided Tour Requests

Would you like a Private Guided Tour? Complete the Guided Tour Request Form for more information.

Meeting Reservation Requests

Interested in reserving the Museum Classroom for your next meeting? Read our Reservation Agreement to see if your group is eligible. Complete the Reservation Request Form to get the conversation started. Additional information can be found on the Museum's Meeting and Event Spaces website page.