CAJM Conference

We’ve just returned from Los Angeles where we attended the Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM) conference. Every year the folks at CAJM put on a rigorous and compelling series of panels, plenaries, symposia and events that are sure to engage and enlighten. This year was no different.  With discussions on topics ranging from “Exhibitions of Influence” to engaging new audiences, the three day conference was packed with useful information and provocative conversation. Over 130 participants from museums of all shapes and sizes were in attendance.

Elise Bernhardt, Aaron Paley, Peter Stein and Limor Tomer

Above is a picture of our panel at the conference – “Programming for the 21st Century”. We discussed how economic circumstances encourage collaboration and today’s audiences expect a full spectrum of multidisciplinary programming;  how do programmers and curators work together to move beyond the exhibition? How can we develop collaborative cultural programs that embrace multiple disciplines and attract new audiences?  We invited Aaron Paley of Yiddishkayt, Peter Stein of the SFJFF and Limor Tomer of the Whitney to talk about different kinds of programming that work in concert with exhibitions and how bodies and objects and work together and supplement each other.

There were panels on a wide variety of topics, as well as some amazing site visits including UCLA’s Fowler Museum, the Museum of Tolerance, the Skirball Cultural Center and the collection at the Frederick R. Weisman Foundation.

For more info on the conference, visit the CAJM website….