Jewish Museum London marks a new chapter in its history, with the announcement of new Chief Executive Officer, Sally Angel, and the news that His Majesty The King has confirmed Jewish Museum London is one of only one thousand organisations he has chosen to retain his Royal Patronage. His Majesty’s renewal of this Patronage was revealed to the Museum to mark the first anniversaries of Their Majesties’ Coronation. The Royal Patronage is a huge vote of confidence in reiterating the importance of the Jewish Museum London. The Museum is also one of the Arts Council England’s 2023 – 2026 National Portfolio Organisations, receiving funding to support collections and learning engagement activity with communities.
Jewish Museum London has appointed Sally Angel its new Chief Executive. She will take up her post on Monday 1st July 2024.
Sally Angel is an Emmy, BAFTA, RTS and Peabody award-winning TV and film producer. She is Creative Director of Angelica Films. She has made films and TV for Channel 4, BBC and international broadcasters and streamers including HBO and for cinema.
Before moving into the independent TV production sector, Sally worked at the BBC as an Arts producer and also played a major role in the launch of the BBC’s commercial and digital channels.
Her appointment sees a renewed commitment to bringing Jewish Museum London into a digital age by connecting to audiences through storytelling, which is crucial to the future of all museums. 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 Museum will offer a seamless physical and digital experience; and in future years, a more prominent location to welcome both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences in greater numbers. This summer the Museum will launch an online platform to showcase 10,000 objects from the Museum’s Designated Collections.
Sally is replacing Sue Shave, Acting Director, who has overseen the Museum’s transition from a fixed site in Camden, to a Museum without Walls. 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. The Museum currently has items 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. The Museum has adapted its award-winning learning programmes, engaging with 22,000 students across Greater London and other UK regions.
Sally Angel incoming Chief Executive Jewish Museum London says, “Jewish Museum London tells the story of the Jewish community and its role in the life and society of the United Kingdom, past, present and future. 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.
The story of Jews in Britain speaks of freedom, persecution, resilience and belonging. My ambition is that the Museum will be a beacon of hope for all minorities living here and more than a small step against prejudice.”
Nick Viner, Chair of Trustees, Jewish Museum London adds, “We would like to extend our thanks to Sue Shave for successfully driving the seamless transition of Jewish Museum London over the past 18 months. We are delighted she is handing the reins over to Sally with the Museum in such a strong position for this new and exciting chapter. Sally Angel’s experience as a forward-thinking storyteller makes her ideally-suited to bring the history of the Jewish people of Great Britain to life. We are hugely honoured that she is joining us as our new Chief Executive and look forward to seeing the positive impact that she will make. 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.”
Sue Shave, Outgoing Acting Director, Jewish Museum London says, “It has been a privilege to be the Acting Director of the Jewish Museum London during one of the most significant periods of its history. I am immensely proud of our extraordinary achievements in becoming a Museum without Walls and increasing our reach around the UK telling key Jewish stories through our collections and programmes. The Museum is in good hands with an excellent team and great foundations for an exciting future.”