$2m promise from Victoria Labor
Melbourne’s Jewish Arts Quarter has welcomed a generous $2 million pre-election commitment from the Victorian Labor Government should the Victorian Labor Party be successful on Saturday’s election day.
Barry Fradkin, JAQ Director, Gideon Kline, President of the Jewish Museum of Australia
Nicole Brittain, Gandel Foundation, Rachel Chrapot, CEO of Kadimah, Lior Harel, Labor Candidate for Caulfield, Gary Samowitz, JAQ, Kylie Appel, JAQ, Noe Harsel, JMA
The money will be put towards the construction of the new high-profile contemporary cultural and arts community facility in Elsternwick.
This announcement is another important funding milestone for the Jewish Arts Quarter project and brings the Andrews Labor Government’s commitment to $7 million – helping to deliver an important investment in Victoria’s multicultural diversity and providing long-term stimulus to the Victorian community.
Lior Harel, the Labor candidate for Caulfield, said, “I am thrilled a newly elected Labor Government will support the establishment of a new Jewish Arts Quarter in Elsternwick, a first-of-its-kind precinct that will be a hub for hospitality, music and entertainment in Melbourne’s southeast”.
Gideon Kline, JAQ Director and Board President of the Jewish Museum of Australia: Gandel Centre of Judaica, said, “We are extremely grateful to the Victorian Labor Government for continuing to invest in arts, culture and multiculturalism. We see this commitment as recognition of the importance of the Jewish Arts Quarter and the opportunity for it to benefit and enrich the cultural tapestry of the local and wider Melbourne communities for decades to come”.
Born from a spirit of collaboration, JAQ is a first for the Jewish community in Australia and a once-in-a-generation opportunity where some of the community’s leading arts and cultural institutions will be able to come together and be housed in one location.
JAQ’s founding partners, the Jewish Museum of Australia: Gandel Centre of Judaica and the Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library, will be centrally located in JAQ, enabling both organisations to be revitalised and re-imagined and present world-class exhibitions, unique performances and cultural programming experiences. They will be joined by many other communal organisations in this brand-new facility.
Joe Tigel, JAQ Director and President of Kadimah, said, “We look forward to welcoming many more arts and cultural organisations to JAQ – each bringing their own unique cultural offering to add to the diverse mix of organisations and visitors that will come together to create a vibrant destination in the heart of Elsternwick”.
JAQ will serve as a drawcard and a celebration of multiculturalism, providing a meaningful addition to the community’s cultural landscape as well as generating a significant boost to the local economy, including jobs, events, and exhibitions whilst promoting the importance of inclusion and diversity.
Mr Kline said, “We anticipate JAQ will provide a deep and meaningful educational experience which will promote deeper understanding, respect and diversity – and create pathways to greater social harmony and cohesion”.
Mr Tigel added, “We wish to celebrate and contribute to our cultural tapestry like Lygon Street and its thriving Italian community, Oakleigh’s Precinct celebrating the Greek culture, and Chinatown in Melbourne’s CBD”.
JAQ will continue to focus on engaging and enlisting the support across all levels of Government and the philanthropic community and is grateful for this boost to the project.
Kylie Appel, Head of Engagement at JAQ said, “With many more milestones to come, JAQ will continue to focus on engaging and enlisting support across all levels of Government and the philanthropic community. Already achieving early success with seed funding from Gandel Foundation, the JAQ team will continue working hard to engage visionary philanthropists, as well as securing further funding and support from State and Federal Governments”.
In its first year alone, JAQ is expected to attract well over 100,000 visitors and increase tourism to the city of Melbourne.
JAQ anticipates opening its doors in 2025.
Blood money from Andrews who hung the Jewish community out to dry during the lockdowns. How about fixing the health system and our state debt rather than cynically trying to buy votes Andrews and co..