Annual Review 2010/11 My instinct is that an important “ new national institution is just about to be born. David Aaronovitch, The Times” 1 JM_Annual Review_10-11_Portrait.indd 1 8/11/11 15:16:54 Royal Patron Honorary Patrons Rabbi Dr Abraham Levy OBE HRH The Prince of Wales Helen Bamber OBE Lord Moser KCB, CBE Honorary Presidents Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield CBE Martin Paisner CBE Kenneth Rubens OBE Rt Hon Lord Woolf PC Naaz Coker Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks Sir Martin Gilbert CBE Sir Antony Sher KBE Vice-President Robert Craig Lord Janner Roger Wingate Chairman Museum Director Rt Hon Lord Young of Graffham DL Rickie Burman Trustees Anne Cowen Stephen Grabiner Ilona Rich Robert Craig Harry Handelsman Kenneth Rubens OBE Martin Finegold Lady Levene Henry Solomon Mike Frankl Martin Levy Rick Sopher Jonathan Gestetner Sally Macdonald Delia Goldring Lord Moser KCB, CBE Architects (Development project) Long & Kentish Exhibition Designers (Development project) Event Communications Bankers Coutts & Co Auditors FMCB Chartered Accountants Solicitors Finers Stephens Innocent 2 JM_Annual Review_10-11_Portrait.indd 2 8/11/11 15:16:54 The Jewish Museum is reopened in 2010 by our Royal Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Prince of Wales 3 JM_Annual Review_10-11_Portrait.indd 3 8/11/11 15:16:57 A message from the Chairman It is now well over a year since we reopened our inspiring Museum after extensive rebuilding and renovation. In December 2010, we were delighted to welcome our Royal Patron, The Prince of Wales to visit the new Museum and unveil a plaque marking the historic occasion. I would like to thank all concerned, from our donors, without whom it would not have been possible, to the architects and contractors and to all of our own people who worked so long and hard to make it all happen. Since reopening, the Museum has hosted a number of diverse and stimulating exhibitions. Our most recent, Entertaining the Nation, explores the stories behind Jewish stars of music, stage and screen and the enormous contribution that Jews have made to the entertainment industry. The scale of this contribution is mirrored by the principal roles that members of our community have held in many other fields, from the arts to the armed forces, fashion to philanthropy, from medicine and the law to business and finance. In the years ahead we wish to show our full history: the story of an immigrant people, how we arrived and were received in a time of need, and the benefits that we have since brought to British society. In particular, the Museum wishes to continue to develop our work with other immigrant groups and faiths to bring better understanding between people of different faiths and backgrounds. During the last 12 months nearly 13,000 schoolchildren, both primary and secondary, have participated in the Museum’s acclaimed learning programme. Demand for our innovative and creative educational projects continues to grow and with your help we hope to fulfil this demand, providing a legacy of tolerance and inspiration for future generations. Rt Hon Lord Young of Graffham DL 4 Message from Chairman and Director JM_Annual Review_10-11_Portrait.indd 4 8/11/11 15:16:58 A message from A message from the Chairman the Director In March 2010 the Jewish Museum reopened after a major redevelopment, establishing a new museum of national and international significance. Our aim in transforming the Jewish Museum has been to create a museum that is welcoming to everyone – people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds. The new Museum is a place that makes a difference – a vibrant educational and cultural centre that challenges prejudice and racism, and builds interfaith connections and understanding. We are extremely grateful to all those who have helped to make this possible – above all, to the Heritage Lottery Fund, the charitable trusts and foundations and individual donors for their generous support, but also to the Trustees and the Museum team who have worked with such commitment to realise our vision. I would like to pay particular tribute to two outstanding individuals - Raymond Burton and Kenneth Rubens – both long-term supporters of the Museum, whose generosity provided the essential foundation on which other benefactors have built. We record with great sadness the death of Raymond Burton CBE in February 2011, at the age of 93. We will miss him greatly, but his legacy will live on in our new Museum. I look forward to continuing to work with our new Chairman, Lord Young of Graffham, building on the achievements of our former Chairman, Robert Craig. We thank all our supporters for their help and partnership, so crucial to the Museum’s development and vital programme of work. Rickie Burman 5 JM_Annual Review_10-11_Portrait.indd 5 8/11/11 15:16:59 A new museum for London, the UK and the world The year 2010/11 represents a landmark in the history of the Jewish Museum. After a £10 million transformation we reopened to the public, dramatically reimagining not only the stories that we tell, but the space in which we tell them. Our galleries, more than trebled in size, have been completely redesigned, and sit within a light and spacious building. The development project was made possible by a major Heritage Lottery Fund grant, together with grants from trusts and foundations and generous private donations. Through our opening season of launch events we reached out to our key stakeholders – donors, museum Friends, museum professionals, the Jewish community, educationalists, the interfaith world – establishing our aim to bring partnership working into the heart of what we do. The reopening was widely covered by national and international press and media, raising the Museum’s profile and enabling us to reposition the Jewish Museum as an outstanding cultural attraction for London and beyond. What the new Museum Changing exhibitions gallery has to offer In addition to our permanent galleries, we The only museum in London dedicated to now have an attractive new gallery space for a minority group, the new Jewish Museum our dynamic programme of special exhibitions, explores Jewish heritage and identity as part with high profile displays on a wide-range of of the wider story of multicultural Britain. themes, drawing in new and diverse audiences. Four new permanent galleries Dedicated education facilities Welcome Gallery: An innovative multimedia We are now able to offer visiting school exhibit, introducing visitors to a diverse range groups an enhanced educational experience, of Jewish people including a fourth generation with an Education Space and multi-purpose smoked salmon manufacturer, an Indian-born Auditorium to house our high quality learning marathon-running great-grandmother, a taxi-driver programme. Our workshops for schools and and an ex-army engineer. families draw on the learning opportunities that have been incorporated throughout the Judaism - A Living Faith: Newly commissioned design of the Museum galleries. films, rare and beautiful ceremonial objects and interactive displays enable visitors to explore Judaism in all its diversity as it is lived in today’s Britain. A high quality visitor History - A British Story: Exploring how and experience why Jewish people have come to the UK from around the world and the challenges of making The new Museum includes a brand new cafe a new home in a new country. and shop, the Foyle Research Library, as well as our 100-seat auditorium. A high quality The Holocaust Gallery: Examining the impact of architectural design features throughout, of Nazism through the experiences and poignant providing a warm and vibrant space for the personal items of London-born Auschwitz survivor Museum’s wide-ranging programme of education Leon Greenman and other survivors who have programmes, cultural events and activities. made their home in Britain. 6 JM_Annual Review_10-11_Portrait.indd 6 8/11/11 15:17:00 At last the UK has a Jewish cultural “ institution of which if can be justly proud. This opening of the newly refurbished museum is a truly momentous occasion for the annals of Jewish culture in this country.” Visitor, March 2010 7 JM_Annual Review_10-11_Portrait.indd 7 8/11/11 15:17:03 Exhibitions and Public Events The Museum draws on Jewish heritage and culture as the catalyst for exploring fresh and challenging subjects which speak to a broad public. At the heart of our programming strategy is the aim to develop exhibitions and events that appeal to new as well as existing audiences. Expanding on the themes explored in our permanent galleries, our changing exhibitions programme offers a dynamic cultural experience in which the Jewish story is of contemporary relevance to our visitors. Working with world-class designers, our exhibitions are developed to the highest standard, making use of up-to-date exhibition technology. The accompanying public programmes of daytime and evening events – film screenings, creative workshops, comedy shows, multimedia performance, walking tours – engage both young and old, further expanding our reach. Alan Yentob, Museum Director Rickie Burman and Simon Schama at the opening of Illumination: Hebrew Treasures from the Vatican and Major British Collections What a wonderful idea to bring this material together on this “ occasion. I do hope it is the successful occasion it deserves to be and another small building block in strengthening Jewish-Catholic relations in this country. Tony Blair, former Prime Minister and Founder of the Faith Foundation,” on the Illumination Exhibition 8 Exhibitions and Public Events JM_Annual Review_10-11_Portrait.indd 8 8/11/11 15:17:06 Exhibitions Illumination: Hebrew Treasures from the Vatican and Major British Collections Our first exhibition after reopening featured rare and ancient manuscripts from major international collections, brought together for the first time. Displays included loans from the Vatican Library, British Library, Bodleian Library and Lambeth Palace.