Within 8 short years the Ben Uri Gallery & Museum has become the most written about representative institution of the British Jewish community

BEN URI GALLERY, The London Jewish Museum of Art is Europe's only dedicated Jewish Museum of Art working in partnership with both secular and Jewish Museums in the UK and internationally. Conceived in 1914, it was founded in 1915 in the East End of London by the charismatic Russian-born Jewish artist Lazar Berson. It has a fascinating and often illustrious 90 year history and is this country's longest established Jewish arts and cultural institution.

It is no coincidence that the histories of the Ben Uri and that of twentieth-century British art are so closely intertwined; the blossoming of the immigrant generations of Jewish Artists was mirrored by the development of modern painting in Britain. The Ben Uri supported and in turn was supported by those very artists. The same outburst of creativity, which burgeoned in London's East End Jewish community, and gave this country so many of its 'masters' including the group now known and recognised as 'The Whitechapel Boys' also gave birth to the Ben Uri.

In 1996 the Ben Uri lost its long established home in Dean St, Soho and the millennium brought about this new chart of its history with the successful re-launch exhibition. 'The Ben Uri Story From Art Society to Museum' in Jan 01 held in London's Bond St where all were honoured by the presence of Teddy Kollek, who as the founder of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and the Jewish Museum in Vienna; formally launched the Ben Uri on its future and mission to establish a new reputation as Europe's only dedicated Jewish Museum of Art.

Lord Rothschild and Teddy Kollek at "The Ben Uri Story" in Jan 01.

Why then today, near 90 years old and simultaneously only 3 years young, is the Ben Uri now the most widely reported institution of Britain's Jewish community?

Because it has become a relevant part of today's British and London's art and culture, often competing successfully within the context of size and location with the great London art institutions for visitors' time and critics' choice. It recognised it had 3 priceless assets; the largest specialist collection of British and European Jewish Artists in the world, close to 1000 works including so many masterworks by near 300 artists, official government recognition and Museum registration, and a proud history of contribution to, from and by Jewish artists throughout the 20th century that is richly and readily recorded by art historians of this period in this country and abroad.

The Ben Uri recognised these assets far outweighed the deficiencies of no gallery and general lack of active or wide community support; and in 2000 set about to reposition itself to reflect it's strengths alongside the needs and opportunities of the people and communities it serves - Jewish and given the population mix of London and the UK predominantly non Jewish audiences of all nationalities. Its new role resembles a well known political mantra, Education, Education and Education but with the added Ben Uri ingredient and benefit of Outreach, Outreach and Outreach.

The unique contribution the Ben Uri has to make is to the British culture scene is to bring alive to all communities from across the spectrum the lives, work and contribution of artists of European Jewish descent, placed where relevant alongside their non Jewish contemporaries, and examined within the artistic and social context of our national cultural heritage.

It now performs to the highest of international museum standards and by implementing its new mission has grown from, as some have said, being an organ of the community to being a proud representative of the Jewish community at large in the secular mainstream museum fraternity; both at home and abroad travelling its exhibitions across the UK and lending paintings and sculptures from its prised collection to Museums across Europe and the USA. It is actively developing a growing and bespoke educational and community involvement programme involving schools, students, art historians and scholars and adults who have an active interest in the period and in the future a special programme of art therapy as part of a specialist mental stimulation programme.

It is innovative in its exhibition policy and by presenting a programme mix of historical and contemporary exhibitions including much from the permanent collection either curated by the Ben Uri [regularly toured across the country] or brought from Museums abroad ensure there is always something for all tastes and interests throughout the year - exhibitions that without the Ben Uri would not be curated or enjoyed in London and the UK..

A museum is nothing without its collection and the Jewish community can be rightly proud of this jewel in its crown. It has master works by British, European and Israeli artists as well as having a unique width and breadth in the historical landscape of 20th century art. Ben Uri is actively acquiring important works by great artists both filling historical gaps in its collection including works by Gertler, S J Solomon, Herman, Levy from the UK, Ticho and Simon from Israel, Liebermann from Germany whilst simultaneously building a new collection of work by contemporary artists including Pushinsky, Held, Pepper, Wood and a striking portrait by Kitaj.

Solomon J. Solomon, Resting Woman, gift in 2002

Emanuel Levy, Crucifixion, acquired March 2004

In short it recognised that its mission, 'To inspire, To connect, To make a difference' can only have real impact if the museum and gallery can, from its platform of being an equal and proud part of Britain's Jewish as well as 20th century art histories, attract and communicate effectively with the general public at large. To succeed is to achieve maximum and unfettered access from the general public at large to its programmes;- collection, exhibitions, education, social, publications and web based , via a convenient location and a compelling offer that competes successfully with all London's other galleries and museums for the public's time and choice.

After 6 years without a gallery the Ben Uri acquired in June 2002 a new exhibition space in Boundary Rd, St John's Wood, North London; a location made famous by the Saatchi Gallery. In partnership with the Jewish Museum, Frankfurt, the Ben Uri celebrated its re-opening in July 2002 with the internationally-acclaimed exhibition of works by the internationally famous German expressionist Ludwig Meidner and his artist wife, Else.

Three years ago, as part of its developing focus on post-war and contemporary practice, the Ben Uri launched a unique series of exhibitions on the influential group of modernist Jewish artists, known collectively as 'the Whitechapel Boys'. This series opened with Bernard Meninsky in 2001, followed by Mark Gertler in 2002 and Jacob Kramer/William Roberts in 2003.

The Ben Uri's major autumn 2004 exhibition, Rediscovering Wolmark: a pioneer of British modernism, the fourth in this series, was the first museum retrospective for almost 30 years and highlights two key phases in the oeuvre of an outstanding British Post-Impressionist, whose place in the history of British modernism is now beginning to be re-appraised. The exhibition travelled across the country as is the policy of taking its message and exhibitions to the provinces and was shown at the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull.

Alfred Wolmark, Self Portrait, 1911, private collection

In the same way that, back in 1915, the Ben Uri sought to forge lasting links with the developing new movements in British modernist, art, it is wholly appropriate that it continues today to forge new links with contemporary artists.

The works in the exhibition The International Jewish Artist of the Year Award (IJAYA): The Finalists' Show 2004, range across both traditional practice and new media, informing new achievements with a sense of the old. With some 800 works, by close to 200 artists, from 15 countries as far a field as America, Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Moldavia, South Africa, Turkey and Switzerland, The IJAYA has heralded an unprecedented response. Ben Uri Chairman, David Glasser, comments: "The sheer quality of works submitted demonstrates the enormous talent across all contemporary practices and the growing international reputation of the Ben Uri Gallery, The London Jewish Museum of Art, which has now become a recognised resource for Jewish artists from across the world."

Surely both Lazar Berson and Alfred Wolmark would have been proud of this achievement.

Yaki Assayag, Michael and Elie, photograph. IJAYA overall winner