Manchester Jewish Museum
The Manchester Jewish Museum re-opened in 2021 after a major capital project with ambitions to ‘connect Jewish stories to the world and to our society, in order to explore both our differences and similarities, and to celebrate that which makes people unique and that which connects us all.’ We worked with the museum team for five years on this transformative project, developing the museum’s interpretive vision and designing a new permanent gallery and site-wide interpretation.
Arranged around three universal themes, Journeys, Communities and Identities, the new gallery highlights how the Manchester Jewish story has much in common with those of other ethnic and religious groups who made their way to Manchester from around the world.
In the words of the museum’s director “This was about creating a space for dialogue across difference, using the museum’s collection to spark debate and explore both shared and unique stories from diverse communities.”
To realise this inclusive approach we have designed spaces that are humble and democratic, accessible in the widest sense. Each of the gallery’s three spaces is designed with a unique identity, from the wood panelled intimacy of Journeys to the city-scale of Communities. In each space content is presented simply but with a range of engaging ways to connect visitors with the museum’s stories.
Curator: Alex Cropper
Interpretation: All Things Studio with Catherine Morton
Graphic Design: Kellenberger–White
Lighting Design: DHA Designs
Architect: Citizens Design Bureau
AV Hardware & Software: Heritage Interactive
Photography: Thomas Adank, Philip Vile & Joel Chester Fildes
This project was supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund
