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The Jewish Museum Berlin Academy
The Jewish Museum Berlin sees itself as a forum for research, discussion, and exchange of ideas. The library, archive, and collections invite academic analysis while events and education programs enable the broadening of knowledge. The Jewish Museum Berlin Academy in the Eric F. Ross Building will unite the archive and museum’s educational work under one roof. Located on the other side of the road from the museum, the new building is based on Daniel Libeskind’s design "Zwischenräume." It represents a new addition to the museum ensemble up to now consisting of the old "Kollegienhaus" (Old Building) and the Libeskind Building.
Construction of the Jewish Museum Berlin Academy
© Jewish Museum Berlin
The ceremonious opening of the Jewish Museum Berlin Academy took place on 17 November 2012. A colloquium was held on the life’s work of the Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides and the significance of the academy building’s inscription "Hear the truth whoever is speaking it."
Conferences, Events, and Workshops on Society’s Diversity
The extension of the museum building ensemble is accompanied by an expansion of the thematic focus. In the academy building, the Jewish Museum Berlin will not only offer individual research opportunities, but also events, workshops, and conferences on migratory history, intercultural education, and the conditions for the acceptance of diversity in German society.
The museum’s educational programs play a considerable role: In February 2012, the project "Diversity in Schools" was launched that - in cooperation with the German Children and Youth Foundation and sponsored by the Mercator Foundation - aims to strengthen intercultural openness in schools. The museum began work with the first school, the "8. Integrierte Sekundarschule" in Berlin Kreuzberg’s Skalitzer Str. in August 2012. In a history workshop and other programs, the museum focus on reinforcing and deepening the intercultural skills of the school students.
The expansion of the thematic focus is also reflected in the museum’s events and conferences. In October 2011, the symposium "Visions of Belonging" was held and a series of events under the same name followed in September 2012. Advised by DeutschPlus e.V. - Initiative for a Plural Republic, the museum aims to create a forum for productive dialogue on handling societal diversity in Germany. A conference organized in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the British Council will be held in 2013, presenting experiences of migration and integration policies and exploring their transferability to Germany.
In order to strengthen its research work further, the Jewish Museum Berlin is introducing a fellowship program from fall 2012. The first museum fellow will be the sociologist Karen Körber.
