The V&A and its Jewish Heritage: Objects and Stories

Building on the work of the collecting and material culture strand of the Jewish Country Houses project, the V&A hosted a landmark conference in November 2024 exploring the profound influence of Jewish heritage on the museum's collections and history. Through four carefully curated sessions, international scholars and experts examined Jewish objects, collectors, dealers, and artists who have shaped the V&A since its founding. From Renaissance amulets to post-war fashion, the conference highlighted both well-known and overlooked Jewish narratives within the museum's holdings.

Notable speakers included Professor David Feldman delivering the opening keynote on "The Heritage of Jewish Heritage," and artist Edmund de Waal chairing a concluding panel discussion on sharing Jewish heritage in public institutions. The event featured specialised tours of Jewish photography in the V&A collection and culminated in conversations about the contemporary challenges and opportunities in curating Jewish cultural heritage.

This conference represented a significant contribution to understanding the rich intersection of Jewish culture and Britain's national collection of art and design.