Magnes Collection of Jewish Art & Life
On January 22, the Bay Area welcomed the opening of the newly re-envisioned Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life. Now known simply as "The Magnes," the collection of the former Judah L. Magnes Museum was gifted to UC Berkeley's Bancroft Library in 2010 and has been given a new look and new life, making precious music, art, rare books, and historical archives available to both scholars and the public.
The Koret Foundation has proudly supported the transformation of this cultural jewel in partnership with philanthropists Tad Taube and the late Warren Hellman. Through a collaborative gift that totaled $2.5 million, the three entities facilitated the transfer of the museum's holdings, revitalizing this impressive collection and furthering scholarship on Jewish culture and history.
Now in a beautifully renovated location in downtown Berkeley, the 25,000-square-foot museum not only houses the Magnes collection but will also serve as a research center and Jewish communal gathering place for exhibitions, lectures, performances and other events that foster community and learning.
The new Magnes is located at 2121 Allston Way in downtown Berkeley, just outside the UC Berkeley campus—just one block from BART.
For more on the new Magnes Collection:
» New York Times - A Jewish Museum Shifts Identity
» San Francisco Chronicle Berkeley Blog - The Magnes: A new cultural institution is unveiled in Berkeley
» Berkeleyside - Berkeley's new Magnes building to be unveiled on Sunday
» UC Berkeley News Center - Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life to open Jan. 22
