Jewish Museum of Australia calling out to creatives
It hopes to enable more opportunities for the museum to employ and support local Jewish creatives.
At a time when many Australian Jewish artists have been exposed to antisemitism and are finding the current climate of anti-Israel hostility difficult to promote their work in, the Jewish Museum of Australia’s Gandel Centre of Judaica (JMA) has launched a creatives’ register and is calling on local artists to sign up.
It hopes to enable more opportunities for the museum to employ and support local Jewish creatives.
Discussing this initiative, JMA CEO and museum director Noè Harsel said, “The ‘Creatives Call Out’ is our initiative … to connect with local Jewish artists, some of whom may, or may not, be on our radar. Since October 7, we’ve seen how challenging it has been for Jewish artists and creatives facing cultural cancelling, doxxing and lost opportunities. At the JMA, we have the power to change that.”
She added, “My hope is to support as many artists as possible in creating their work and to remind the community of the vital role our museum plays.”
The JMA is calling for artists, creatives and makers to register their details and interest for potential projects.
The projects include a writer in residency program, which offers space to write and access to the museum’s extensive collection; arts and culture programs, whereby creatives can participate in the museum’s diverse range of arts and culture programs including writing workshops and talks; and the opportunity to showcase their creative products in the JMA shop.
Through the JMA’s programming it has already employed local creatives, including Rachelle Unreich, Sidra Kranz Moshinksy, Lee Kofman, Judy Newman, Elise Esther Hearst, Gaby Lichtig, John Safran, Avraham Vofsi, Alex Burkoy and Sophia Brous.
Meanwhile, the museum is currently exhibiting acclaimed artists Nina Sanadze, Andrew Rogers and Vofsi’s Archibald finalist entry John Safran as David and Goliath, and Harry Nankin was exhibited earlier this year.
The JMA has also recently announced an exhibition by Danielle Brustman, opening on August 11, I could have danced all night, which was inspired by Brustman’s grandmothers Marta and Dora and explores themes of legacy, identity and the power of objects to hold and share stories.
Brustman’s installations and design work have been presented at cultural institutions including the National Gallery of Victoria, Rigg Design Prize, NGV Triennial and Melbourne Now, and Melbourne Design Week.
To sign up to the JMA’s creatives register visit: jewishmuseum.com.au/creatives-call-out
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