Government Pledges £1 Million for Jewish Museum London

The Government has pledged £1 million to support the future of Jewish Museum London, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy declaring that investment in Jewish stories and heritage is essential to strengthening British society at a time of growing division and antisemitism.

Announcing the funding at the launch of the museum’s new temporary exhibition space at JW3 in north London, Nandy said the investment was “not in a building, but in the stories, the connections and the understanding that are the basis of a cohesive society and the future of our country.”

She added: “The antidote to othering, antisemitism and demonisation is ultimately connection and understanding. The way that we connect and bridge those gaps that lead to violence and disorder is not by turning in, but by reaching out.”

The funding announcement came as the museum unveiled Two Rooms by Jewish Museum London, an interim exhibition space that officially launched on 17 June and opens to the public from 18 June until 18 October with two inaugural exhibitions.

Addressing guests at the launch, Nandy said that at a time when “the ties that bind us” are fraying, the museum’s work had become increasingly important.

“We’ve seen events cancelled because of security concerns and stories silenced as a consequence,” she said. “I firmly believe we are a better country than the one we’ve glimpsed in recent months and that it is our generation’s historic task to give voice to it again.”

The move marks the latest stage in the museum’s plans to establish a new permanent museum by 2030, following a challenging period between 2019 and 2024 during which it faced significant financial and organisational difficulties.

Museum leaders say the institution has since stabilised its operations and retained its status as a National Portfolio Organisation funded by Arts Council England.

Nick Viner, chair of Jewish Museum London, described the opening as “a really exciting moment” after three years as “a museum without walls.”

He said the temporary space was “a springboard” towards an ambitious new vision for the museum that would showcase “how Jewish communities, culture and contributions are woven into the fabric of British society.”

Viner added: “Our vision is outward-looking and national in scope, with a goal of offering education and outreach across the country and telling the Jewish story to all in the most compelling way possible.”

The first exhibition, Legacy: The Story of the Jewish Family Who Founded J. Lyons and Fed Britain, explores the history of the family behind the J. Lyons empire, once one of Britain’s best-known food and hospitality businesses.

Inspired by the book Legacy: The Remarkable Story of J. Lyons and the Family Behind It by Thomas Harding, the exhibition traces the company’s rise from its origins in a German-Jewish immigrant family through its famous tea houses and bakeries, the Wimpy hamburger chain, the Strand Palace Hotel and pioneering developments in computing through the LEO computer.

The exhibition also examines the antisemitism and discrimination encountered by the family, including accusations of being “enemy aliens” during the First World War and opposition to fascist movements in the 1930s.

Alongside it, a second exhibition, Tree of Life: Stories from Jewish Museum London’s Collection, showcases highlights from the museum’s permanent collection of more than 35,000 objects.

Spanning more than 350 years of Jewish life in Britain, the exhibition includes artefacts ranging from the 1650s, shortly before Jews were readmitted to England, to objects dating from 2023.

The museum also plans a future exhibition marking the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain, focusing on the work of celebrated British graphic designer Abram Games.

Charles Ross, who was recently appointed as the museum’s Chief Executive, said the temporary space represented “something much bigger” than an interim gallery.

“It gives us the opportunity to welcome audiences again into a dedicated Jewish Museum space and build on the work that has continued beyond our walls,” he said.

Ross said the museum had engaged almost 30,000 students through its learning programmes over the past year and had continued to lend objects and stage partnerships with major cultural institutions despite not having a permanent home.

“Museums matter because they preserve stories, deepen understanding and build bridges between people,” he said. “The Jewish Museum exists not simply to tell stories about Jews in Britain, but to use those stories to help people better understand the society they live in.”

He added that the museum was now creating “the next chapter” in its history: “a new museum that will celebrate Jewish life, resilience, contribution and culture as part of Britain’s national story.”

“As the Jewish Museum approaches its centenary, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity not simply to preserve Jewish history but to secure its visible place in Britain’s future,” he said.