Warsaw Visit

AEJM Conference

The Foundation Chief Executive Michael Mail attended the European Association of Jewish Museums (AEJM) conference, which is an annual gathering of the professional leadership of the Jewish museums sector from across the continent.  It took place this year at the astonishing Polin Museum which presents the 1,000 year history of the Polish Jewish experience.   There were around 120 participants including senior representatives from the Jewish Museums of Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Athens etc. 

The programme was a mix of keynote speeches on major themes relating to the sector, and workshops on specific aspects of museum programming.  The conference was opened by Polin Museum Chief Curator Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett who gave a presentation on the history and future of cultural engagement in the museums sector.   AEJM presented their own work and the various ways it supports Jewish museums, which has grown as a result of recent EU funding.  Ongoing professional training is a key part of this offer.  The networking opportunities were particularly useful.

Inevitably, the rise of antisemitism across Europe was a major topic and the issue of ensuring the security of Jewish museum sites while not alienating potential visitors. 

Orla Synagogue

Michael also met with members of the Steering Committee leading the 17^th century Orla synagogue project in the Podlaskie region of Poland.   The meeting discussed the results of the recent Feasibility Study supported by the Foundation that had called for the site to be transformed into an arts and educational venue, and reviewed the project’s next steps.   The current dialogue with Europa Nostra (EN) as part of Orla receiving the ‘7 Most Endangered Sites of Europe’ Award was also considered.  The EN team will be visiting Orla in September and the visit programme was being being prepared.  

Government meetings

Michael took the opportunity of being in Poland to hold meetings with Government officials to discuss the Foundation’s current work in the country and how that role could develop.  These meetings were arranged by the Foundation’s representative in Poland Piotr Puchta, a former senior Polish diplomat and former CEO of the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland.  Meetings were held with - Jan Lazinsky, Department of Public and Cultural Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr Piotr Rypson, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture; and Marek Siwiec, Secretary General of the Chancellery of the Polish Parliament.