King Charles has renewed his patronage of the Jewish Museum in London, making it one of only a thousand organisations chosen by the King to retain his Royal Patronage.
Originally appointed patron of the museum in 2008, the King’s renewed patronage is a “huge vote of confidence in reiterating the importance of the Jewish Museum London,” a spokesperson for the museum said. In 2010, the then Prince of Wales unveiled a plaque in the museum’s former Camden premises.
LONDON - DECEMBER 14: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attends the opening of the Jewish Museum on December 14, 2010 in Camden Town, London. Prince Charles is the Patron of the Jewish Museum. (Photo by Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The announcement comes as the museum appoints Sally Angel as chief executive and the King celebrates a year since his coronation.
A TV and film producer, Angel played a major role in the launch of the BBC’s commercial and digital channels and the museum hopes that her appointment will help bring the organisation “into a digital age by connecting to audiences through storytelling”.
“This digital focus will sit alongside the museum’s commitment to illuminate and celebrate the story of Jews in Britain, in a new physical space, with regularly changing state-of-the-art exhibitions, up-to-date permanent displays, and open stores for audiences to enable wider engagement with the museum’s collections.”
The institution also announced its plans to locate to a “more prominent location to welcome both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences in greater numbers.”
Last June, the museum shut its premises in Camden and evolved into a “museum without walls.”
Since January, it has delivered outreach and virtual programming for schools, families and care homes and has taken temporary displays to venues around the UK. Its objects are currently on display at Tate, The National Holocaust Centre and Museum, JW3, The Hackney Museum, Manchester Jewish Museum as well as pop-up exhibitions at Swiss Cottage Library
In the past year, the museum’s reach has increased from nearly 28,000 visitors per year to approximately 155,000 across several regions in the UK, including 22,000 students.
Sally Angel, the new chief executive of the Jewish Museum London
Nick Viner, Chair of Trustees, said of Angel’s appointment, “Her digital vision to future-proof Jewish Museum London will add a new dimension to the Museum’s physical displays of its unique collections, heritage and stories, heralding a new era that will appeal to audiences old and new for many years to come.”
Speaking after her appointment, Angel said, “The museum now has an extraordinary opportunity to connect its world class collection with the power of story and use digital innovation to reach wider and more diverse audiences."
Angel added that she hopes "the museum will be a beacon of hope for all minorities living here”.
The King’s patronage of the Council of Christian and Jews was announced last month. He is also a patron of Norwood, World Jewish Relief, JLGB and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
