Outgoing Jewish Museum of Australia director Dr Helen Light (centre), with Luba Bilu (left) and Emma Kranz, at Dr Light’s farewell evening. Photo: AJN file

AJN STAFF

OUTGOING Jewish Museum of Australia (JMA) director Dr Helen Light AM has identified fundraising as the biggest challenge facing her successor and called for the Jewish community to dig deep.

After 27 years at the museum, Dr Light said running the JMA was a “struggle every year” because of a lack of funding.

“Our community is generous but it costs a lot to run a museum. We need more money to run,” Dr Light told The AJN.

“Money’s a challenge and everything unfortunately depends on money because we are a small not-for-profit. Museums don’t make money, they use money.”

The Victorian Museums Australia committee member said one of the biggest problems facing the JMA is the community’s perception of the cultural centre as a luxury and not a necessity.
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JCA president David Balkin at this year’s fundraising gala in August. Photo: Giselle Haber

CHANTAL ABITBOL

TOUGH economic times have put a dent in the Jewish Communal Appeal’s (JCA) fundraising efforts this year, with the group reporting close to a $1 million shortfall compared to last year’s campaign.

JCA chief executive Ian Sandler told The AJN that this year’s campaign, which ended last month, raised a total of $11.5 million compared to around $12.3 million secured in the last appeal.

The shortfall comes at a time when JCA has reported a surge in requests from Jewish organisations seeking financial relief after the recent economic downturn.

Sandler, however, said it was not entirely unexpected. “Everyone is tightening their belts,” he said.

“Some of our strong supporters have experienced significant financial hardship over the past year and are not able to do as much as they usually do.”
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