Association of European Jewish Museums

Transcription

1 Annual Report 2012

2 Association of European Jewish Museums Annual Report 2012 Table of Content Introduction 2 Activities 3 Committees 9 Cooperation 10 Communication 11 Financial Support 12 Financial Report 13 Board & Staff 14 Colophon 15 Museum educators at a workshop at the Children s Museum in the Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam Educator s Training Programme (ETP)

3 Introduction Since its foundation in 1989, the Association of European Jewish Museums (AEJM) has been a major force in the preservation of Jewish heritage in Europe. Representing more than fifty Jewish museums from all over Europe from Stockholm to Istanbul, from Toledo to Vilnius, from London to Budapest the Association actively promotes professional standards and educational activities that help our members to fulfil their task: to preserve the material and immaterial Jewish heritage and to create a productive and meaningful discourse about Jewish culture, tradition and history. Jewish museums are often on the forefront of new developments in museology and museum communication. They create bridges between past and present in fields where particularly sensitive matters are at stake, serving as prototypes for other museums regarding their own efforts and strategies in facing their challenges. New major museum projects (as in Warsaw or Moscow) and new permanent exhibitions under construction (as in Frankfurt or Vienna) are indicators of a vital desire to approach Jewish history and culture from new angles and in new contexts. The activities of the association are growing in scope and professionalism. For the first time we now present an overview of the activities of a year filled with achievements and new programmes. With the support of the Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) in London AEJM is now able to offer a wide range of opportunities for training and for exchanging information, experience and knowledge among members. Furthermore, the AEJM promotes mutual support and cooperation. Below you will find a summary of all the various initiatives AEJM developed during the past year: it is now able now to give back to its members. That we are able to do this is the result of our energetic and amicable members who engaged in conferences, task force meetings and all kinds of other shared projects during the past years. Their force helps to preserve and to further strengthen the independent and professional position of our members towards evolving challenges in Europe, and encourages us to develop the AEJM even further. We are working on new programmes, new cooperation and new funds. At this point let me express my thanks to all members of the AEJM, but in particular to the Board that engages in this enterprise Hetty Berg (Amsterdam), Daniela Eisenstein (Fürth), Erika Perahia- Zemour (Thessaloniki) and Magda Veselska (Prague) and to Eva Koppen, our Project Manager and Administrator, who is devoting all her creativity, experience and energy to the AEJM s further development, programmes, events and daily business. Hanno Loewy President AEJM 2

4 Activities Curatorial Education Programme Frankfurt The third edition of the Curatorial Training Programme (CEP) took place from 27 until 29 February 2012, at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt (Germany). The programme was organised in close cooperation with Dr Eva Atlan (Jewish Museum Frankfurt), Dr Felicitas Heimann- Jelinek and Prof Dr Annette Weber (Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg). Staff members from sixteen member institutions participated in an intensive three- day programme with workshops, lectures and discussions on curatorial work in Jewish museums, with a particular focus on the identification and interpretation of Judaica silverware and textiles. Workshops by Felicitas Heimann- Jelinek, Annette Weber and Eva Atlan focused on identifying and interpreting textile objects, Chanukah lamps and other silver objects from the collection of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt. Curator Anja Lippert from the City Museums Aschaffenburg brought recently discovered Torah wimpels from this museum collection to Frankfurt for further identification and interpretation by the participants of the workshops. In their workshop Johannes Wachten and Michael Lenarz focused on the identification of inscriptions on objects from the Judaica collection of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt and gravestones. During the excursion to the new synagogue in Mainz the participants of the CEP had the opportunity to study Torah ornaments that had previously never been documented. Workshop on silverware at the Jewish Museum Workshop on textiles at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, CEP 2012 Frankfurt, CEP

5 Annual Conference Vienna The AEJM Annual Conference 2012 took place from 17 until 20 November at the Jewish Museum Vienna and the Palais Epstein in Vienna. More than a hundred delegates from twenty- six countries participated in the lectures, panel discussion, and workshops of this year s edition called Change and Complexity. How Jewish Museums Remember and Reinvent Themselves. The keynote lecture Facts, Projections, Voids: Milestones of Austrian Jewish History by DE Martha Keil (Institute for Jewish History in Austria) gave insight in eight hundred years of Jewish life in Austria. In the second keynote lecture Change and Complexity. How do Museums Deal with their own Past, Reesa Greenberg (Ottawa, Canada) discussed various attitudes of Jewish museum s towards their own history expressed in special exhibitions, permanent displays and websites. Greenberg showed how open reflection on the museums own position and discourse is crucial for their development. The panel discussion Change and Complexity. How do museums reinvent themselves focused on change and development in the permanent displays of Jewish museums and included presentations about the museums in Frankfurt (Sabine Koessling), Berlin (Inka Bertz), and Amsterdam (Hetty Berg). Delegates could further participate in workshops on contemporary Judaica by Gabriele Kohlbauer- Fritz, historical film footage in exhibitions by Marcus Patka, museum education by Hannah Landsmann, museum archives by Christa Prokisch, the development of the new permanent exhibition of the Jewish Museum Vienna by Werner Hanak- Lettner, and Judaica in the private Muzicant collection by Felicitas Heimann- Jelinek. During the excursion programme the delegates visited the Museum Judenplatz, the Stadttempel synagogue, the Seegasse cemetery, and the Jewish Theatre Nestroyhof Hamakom. On 21 November a group of thirty- five delegates participated in the optional excursion to Bratislava, Slovakia. Maros Borsky welcomed the group at the new Jewish Community Museum in the Haydukova Street synagogue. After a walking tour along Jewish sites of interest, Michal Vanek and director Pavol Mestan welcomed the group at the Museum of Jewish Culture. This was followed by a visit to the Jewish Community Centre and a visit to the Chatam Sofer Memorial. Workshop Archives and Provenance. The Diaspora of Documents in the Palais Epstein at the Annual Conference 2012, Vienna Workshop Made in China, bought in the US, used in Vienna. Judaica in the Age of Globalization at the Jewish Museum Vienna 4

6 New programme initiatives In 2012, the AEJM developed two new programme initiatives: the Educator s Training Programme (ETP) and the Advisory Visits Grant Programme (AVGP). Educator s Training Programme Amsterdam The new Educator s Training Programme (ETP) was initiated by the AEJM Board in order to promote educational skills and expertise which are specific for Jewish museums and which are not taught in standard museological courses. The ETP offers AEJM members both professional training in the field of museum education and the opportunity to share common challenges, goals and experiences. In this way, the ETP aims at improving the performance and the impact of museum education of AEJM member institutions. The first edition of the ETP took place from 10 until 13 May 2012, at the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam (the Netherlands). AEJM Project Coordinator Eva Koppen set up and developed in close cooperation with Petra Katzenstein, head of the Education Department of the Jewish Historical Museum. Nineteen museum educators from seventeen member institutions joined the intensive four- day programme at the Jewish Historical Museum. The programme was set up as a combination of theory and practice, and as a combination of best practice methods and hands- on training. In addition, the programme covered a wide range of topics that are part of education practice in European Jewish museums. The different topics were arranged according to the three themes religion, Shoah and culture each scheduled for one day of the programme. Workshop on Shoah education at the Hollandsche Schouwburg (Dutch Theatre), ETP 2012 Amsterdam 5

7 The museum educators of the Jewish Historical Museum organised interactive workshops at different locations, such as the Children s Museum (programmes for elementary schools), the Hollandsche Schouwburg (Shoah education), and the exhibition spaces (programmes for secondary schools and development of education programmes for temporary exhibitions). Tali Gross gave an introduction training of the Encounters Programme, a method for communication and education in museums as developed by the JHM. The participants of the ETP also visited the Anne Frank House, where Karen Polak (International Department of the Anne Frank Foundation) organised a workshop on the education policy and methods of the Foundation. Workshop at the Anne Frank House, ETP 2012 Amsterdam 6

8 Advisory Visits Grant Programme The AEJM Board and Project Coordinator developed the Advisory Visits Grant Programme (AVGP) in 2012 to assist AEJM members in need of expert advise and training. The Programme is particularly focused on key issues for Jewish museums. The AVGP offers AEJM members both professional and financial support for expert advice and in- house training. Improving professionalization of Jewish museums in Europe and connecting sources of knowledge between these museums are the guiding principles for the new grant programme. The AVGP is open for applications in three categories: Collection Management, Museum Education and Permanent Displays. Applications in the category Collection Management should have a primary focus on the identification, preservation, conservation and interpretation of Judaica or other items relating to Jewish life and history. In addition, applications relating to the improvement of accessibility of museum collections, such as inventories, cataloguing, and digitization programmes that aim at long- term sustainability will also be taken into consideration for grants. Applications in the category Museum Education should relate to the development of educational programmes and displays for special target groups, such as children departments. Applications in the category Permanent Display should have a focus on the development of exhibition concepts for the permanent display of a museum. In 2012 the AEJM Board implemented two grants: 1. Irish Jewish Museum Permanent Displays The Irish Jewish Museum in Dublin was granted an advisory visit by a consultant to assist with the permanent display of museum artefacts. The museum is located in the original Walworth Road Synagogue, housing a collection of textiles and religious objects as well as an exhibition hall containing memorabilia of the social history of the Irish Jewish community over the past hundred and fifty years. Over the years, the collection has grown resulting in overcrowded, small display spaces where the materials and the message of the displays are not always clear. In July Rickie Burman (Jewish Museum London) undertook a one- day visit to the Irish Jewish Museum in order to assess the current permanent display and to give a first advice on the development of a new permanent display, and on collection management. Her detailed report enabled the museum to immediately start implementing initial changes and improvements to the permanent display. The report will further serve as a starting point for a follow- up visit in January, The report helped to focus the efforts of the committee with regard to prioritizing goals, says Yvonne Altman- O Connor from the Irish Jewish Museum. Rickie s expertise and knowledge of international standards for best practices considering museum displays along with her fresh and objective point of view contributed to increased awareness and further scrutiny of the exhibition by museum personnel. 7

9 2. The Izmir Project Collection Management The Izmir Project (Turkey) was granted a general advisory visit by a museum consultant. The Izmir Project focuses on the preservation of Jewish heritage in Izmir and on the creation of public awareness of this specific heritage. The project is in its first stages of development. Regarding the future opening of a new museum complex in Izmir, the project is looking for further professionalization of its staff In July Felicitas Heimann- Jelinek visited Izmir in Turkey. For four days she worked together with the staff of the Izmir Sephardic Cultural Heritage Association and other organisations involved in preserving Jewish heritage in Izmir. The visit was aimed at assessing of the current stage of development of the plans for a museum and heritage site, and advising on setting priorities and on future steps in order to realise a Jewish heritage site. Realising the importance of preserving the glorious past, some efforts of preservation and restoration were made, but due to a lack of knowledge and means, success was very limited and unprofessional, says Uri Bar- Ner of The Izmir Project. We want to express our appreciation and thanks to Mrs Heimann- Jelinek for her detailed and in- depth report, which we hope, will be an important milestone for the preservation of the Izmir Jewish heritage. 8

10 Committees Training Task Force The Training Task Force (TTF) is an advisory committee for the Curatorial Education Programme (CEP). The TTF gathered in Prague (April) and Vienna (November). In 2012 the Training Task Force consisted of: Cilly Kugelmann Jewish Museum Berlin (Germany) Felicitas Heimann- Jelinek (Austria) Bernhard Purin Jewish Museum Munich (Germany) Johannes Wachten Jewish Museum Frankfurt (Germany) Max Polonovski Cultural Government of France Edward van Voolen Jewish Historical Museum Amsterdam (the Netherlands) Inka Bertz Jewish Museum Berlin (Germany) Financial Audit Committee The Financial Audit Committee (FAC) is responsible for auditing the Financial Report of the AEJM. The FAC gathered during the Annual Conference in Vienna (17-20 November). In 2012 the Financial Audit Committee consisted of: Max Polonovski Cultural Government of France Bernhard Purin Jewish Museum Munich (Germany) 9

11 Cooperation Palais Epstein Lecture The AEJM organised an event within the framework of Palais Epstein Lectures- series of the Parliament of the Republic of Austria. The Palais Epstein Lecture took place on 20 November 2012, at the Palais Epstein in Vienna, Austria. The programme included an introduction by Barbara Prammer President of the National Council of Austria a lecture and a panel discussion. The lecture Change and Complexity. How do Jewish Museums deal with their own Past by Reesa Greenberg (Ottawa, Canada) was followed by a panel discussion on this specific topic, moderated by Heidemarie Uhl (Austrian Academy of Sciences). During the panel discussion Hetty Berg (Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Maros Borsky (Jewish Community Museum Bratislava, Slovakia), Werner Hanak- Lettner (Jewish Museum Vienna, Austria), Hanno Loewy (Jewish Museum Hohenems, Austria), Melissa Martens (Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York, USA, and Council of American Jewish Museums) acted as representatives of different AEJM member institutions and other partners. Reesa Greenberg at the Palais Epstein Lecture, Vienna 10

12 Communication Newsletter The AEJM Newsletter is a quarterly bulletin that contains announcements and reports on AEJM activities, as well as relevant information about member institutions, grant programmes and publications. The Newsletter is published online and is sent to members and a mailing list of non- members. In 2012 four editions of the Newsletter were issued. Website The AEJM website serves as a means of communication to members and as a resource for the greater public. The website includes information about AEJM activities, grant programmes and relevant activities for Jewish museums and collections. Furthermore, on the website the Newsletter, members reports and news about other current developments are published. 11

13 Financial Support The AEJM is supported by the Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe. 12

14 Financial Report Financial Report for the year 2012 as at Income Membership Fees Rothschild Foundation ,11 Austrian Parliament 500,00 Expenditures Total Income ,11 Administration Costs Banking 76,18 Registration Chamber of Commerce 24,08 Project Coordinator & Board Salary PC ,68 Office costs 1200 Computer/Notebook Travel costs Travel costs PC 4175,37 Travel costs Board & TTF 4603,21 Training Programmes (CEP - ETP) & Conference Grants towards Travel Costs/Accommodation participants 7990 Fees & travel costs Tutors Training Programmes & Conf. 4093,56 Programme costs 260,73 Advisory Visits Grant Programme Fees & travel costs experts Grant Programme 6764,91 Website Hosting & Development 656,88 Total Expenditures ,60 Nep Surplus/Deficit ,51 13

15 Board & Staff Board President Hanno Loewy, Director Jewish Museum Hohenems, Austria Treasurer Hetty Berg, Manager Museum Affairs Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Secretary Magda Veselska, Head Collection Management Jewish Museum Prague, Czech Republic Training Task Force Erika Perahia- Zemour, Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki, Greece Newsletter Daniela F. Eisenstein, Director Jewish Museum Franconia, Germany Training Task Force and AEJM website Staff Project Coordinator Eva Koppen, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 14

16 Colophon Content: Association of European Jewish Museums Editing: Marble Text & Translation Association of European Jewish Museums c/o Eva Koppen Jewish Historical Museum P.O. Box RE Amsterdam the Netherlands 15