Annual Conference Programm – Warsaw 2026: Jewish Museums and People.

Day I
Sunday, June 7

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Registration

11:00 AM Guided tours of the Core Exhibition, the temporary exhibition, and the Jewish Historical Institute

1:00 PM LUNCH

2:00 PM OPENING CEREMONY

Dariusz Stola, Director of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
Mirjam Wenzel, Director of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt and Chair of the Board, Association of European Jewish Museums

2:20 PM KEYNOTE LECTURE
The changing role of the public in the history of museums — from the Kunstkammer to the participatory museum.
Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews

3:00 PM PLENARY SESSION 1
Subject: How are museums incorporating changes in cultural engagement?

Some museums underwent major transformations, others redefined their mission and core exhibitions. What were the criteria that guided their implementation of change? What were the results with regard to the presentation of their collections on the one hand and the audiences on the other?

• Mirjam Wenzel, Jewish Museum Frankfurt
• Taina Máret Pieski, SIIDA Sami Museum, Finland
• Netta Assaf, The Israel Museum

4:30 PM COFFEE BREAK

5:00 PM PLENARY SESSION 2
Subject: Who are our audiences, and what shapes them?

As society is rapidly changing, museum audiences are evolving as well. This session presents insights from recent audience research, examining the expectations, behaviors, and cultural habits of museum visitors. It also explores the social contexts that shape their experiences and asks how these factors influence engagement with Jewish heritage.

Chair: Zuzanna Schnepf-Kołacz, Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw

• John Falk, Institute for Learning Innovation, Oregon
• Małgorzata Zając, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw
• Anika Reichwald, Jewish Museum Berlin

6:30 PM End of the day’s program

Day 2
Monday, June 8

9:30 AM MORNING COFFEE

10:00 AM PLENARY SESSION 3
Subject: Are we shaping or falsifying our understanding of the past by implementing new technologies?

Emerging technologies are transforming the cultural habits of visitors and everyday museum practice. This session reflects on whether — and under what conditions — digital tools such as VR, AR, and AI can enhance engagement with the past without distorting memory or compromising the authenticity of historical witnesses. What are the potentials of these tools for museums? And which ethical questions should be raised for their responsible use?

11:30 AM NETWORKING SESSION
Let’s meet — a networking session

Based on the Open Space Technology format for open discussion, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas in larger groups, this session encourages networking and exchange. After a short introduction, participants are invited to propose discussion topics which will be explored in smaller, self-organized groups.

1:00 PM LUNCH

2:00 PM PLENARY SESSION 4
Subject: We at the museum

Working in a Jewish Museum is a meaningful, fascinating, and important task. At the same time, it is demanding, challenging, and constantly evolving. Can we ensure that the emotions tied to the topics we address do not overwhelm us in the long run? How can we create a supportive and empathetic work environment for ourselves and our successors?

Chair: Joanna Fikus, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw

• Katarzyna Kulińska, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw
• Natania Dan, Jewish Cultural Quarter Amsterdam
• Nisya Isman Allovi, The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews, Istanbul

3:30 PM COFFEE BREAK

4:00 PM WORKSHOP AND MASTERCLASS SESSION

Groups:

• Communication workshop: How to stand out from the crowd? — Katarzyna Krauze, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw
• Presentation: fundraising from private sources — how does it work? Bartek Dymarek, Association of the Jewish Historical Institute in Poland
• Workshop: Things you think but don’t want to say in your institution
• Participatory approaches in creating exhibitions, Franziska Krah, Jewish Museum Frankfurt
• The people we talk about — ethical aspects
• Workshop: How do EU grants work? FENIKS and more — Maria Ostrowska, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw; Oliver Baurhenn (AEJM)
• Workshop: How October 7 and its aftermath change the image of Jews and what it means for Jewish museums? — Dagmara Mańka-Wizor & Julia Chimiak, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw

5:30 PM PLENARY SESSION 5
Subject: Recent developments due to new fundings

Chair: Petra Katzenstein, Jewish Cultural Quarter Amsterdam

• 5:30 PM Presentation of the new program lines for members of the AEJM, enabled by the support of the EU — Mirjam Wenzel & Sharon Reichel, Association of European Jewish Museums
• 5:45 PM Jewish Cultural Heritage Project: Opportunities and Challenges of Large-scale International Projects Funded by the EEA and Norway Grants — Łucja Koch, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw
• 6:00 PM How to deal with obligations arising from multi-year grants with multi-year offer requirements: FENIKS Grant example — Maria Ostrowska, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw

6:15 PM End of the day’s program

7:00 PM RECEPTION AT THE PALACE OF THE COMMONWEALTH

Day 3
Tuesday, June 9

9:30 AM MORNING COFFEE

10:00 AM PLENARY SESSION 6
Subject: What are the tasks of Jewish museums in the face of terror, war, and increasing hostilities?

Jewish Museums in Europe, the United States, and Australia are confronted with rising hostilities toward Jews and antisemitic terror attacks, whereas museums in Israel and Ukraine have been carrying out their tasks under the condition of war. What is the impact of this situation on the institution? How can museums remain resilient? The panel will give insight into the situation of museums that were either targets of terror or affected by war. It thereby addresses their role as resilient actors with a mission in their respective community or society.

Chair: Mirjam Wenzel, Jewish Museum Frankfurt

11:30 AM COFFEE BREAK

11:45 AM PLENARY SESSION 7
Subject: New developments and projects in the field

11:45 AM Recent developments within CAJM — Karen Franklin, Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM)

12:00 PM Pecha Kucha style presentations

1:00 PM LUNCH

2:00 PM Feedback & reflections

End of the day’s program

2:30 PM AEJM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

3:30 PM SOCIAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAM — EXCURSIONS
AEJM Excursions:

• Guided Tour of Jewish Warsaw
• Guided tour of the Museum of Warsaw
• Guided tour of the Museum of Modern Art