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Architects impression of JAQ

JAQ will be an inclusive destination that celebrates Jewish arts and culture with great museum experiences, art, theatre, education, learning, music, food, shopping and new public spaces for everyone.

A Slice of Jewish Life

This bold and transformative project will provide a public space where we can celebrate, educate, connect and preserve Jewish heritage and identity through contemporary Jewish life and culture in all its forms.

Born from a spirit of collaboration, JAQ brings together Melbourne’s Jewish leading cultural institutions into one vibrant hub, providing a vital and creative communal facility and an engaging and dynamic home for Jewish life.

“The Jewish Arts Quarter is an initiative of national significance to celebrate Jewish arts and culture in Victoria. We are excited to support the incredible vision that is making this precinct both a reality and a legacy of enduring significance for the people of Australia.”

— John Peterson

CEO, Multicultural Museums Victoria

Spearheaded by the Jewish Museum of Australia: Gandel Centre of Judaica and Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library, JAQ will be the home of these and many other cultural institutions, forming a dynamic hub of creativity, culture and connection.

In crafting a world-class arts and cultural hub, JAQ is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new, significant Jewish destination on Melbourne’s colourful and diverse cultural map.

Your passion and support are critical in helping transform this dream into a reality.

“We’re looking for a contemporary vision for the building, but one that’s timeless. It is housing organisations that have an incredible history. And we’re looking for them to have an incredible future. JAQ will be a place that you come back to again and again.”

— James Pearce

Partner, Fender Katsalidis Architects

JAQ - A Cultural Landmark in the Heart of Elsternwick

Delivery of the Jewish Arts Quarter in Elsternwick will be the catalyst for social cohesion and seeks to promote community-based principles of inclusivity and collaboration, resulting in an important place for learning, connection, preservation and inspiration.

Designed by Australia’s leading architecture firm Fender Katsalidis (who also designed MONA and New Quay Melbourne), JAQ will become a prominent cultural landmark within the municipality that celebrates Jewish heritage and the arts.

Rising seven floors above-ground with two subterranean basement levels, JAQ will house a multipurpose performing arts auditorium and transformative museum spaces hosting educational opportunities for school groups and other public programs.

10,000sqm within Elsternwick’s Cultural Precinct, the energised community hubs of JAQ will draw year round crowds, offering a unique cultural emersion into contemporary Jewish life and culture.

  • Jewish Museum of Australia: Gandel Centre of Judaica

  • Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library

  • Kadimah Yiddish Theatre

  • Kadimah Yiddish Radio

  • Educational and learning spaces

  • Creative arts and music studios

  • Performing Arts Theatre

  • Co-working facilities

  • Activated public spaces

  • English, Hebrew and Yiddish library

  • Retail shops

  • Cafes and kiosks

  • Event spaces

  • Meeting rooms

“The JAQ project has the potential to transform and revitalise Elsternwick into a vibrant cultural destination that celebrates Jewish life in Melbourne. The JAQ project is a celebration of Jewish history in Victoria and provides cross‐cultural understanding and appreciation of the rich Jewish history in Melbourne, unifying the broader cross‐cultural community.”

— Rebecca McKenzie

CEO, Glen Eira City Council

  • Multipurpose Space

    For education, conferences & community celebrations.

  • Streetscape

    Public space for festivals, activations & pop-up stalls and installations.

  • Educational Space

    Annually supporting over 100,000 student museum visits.

  • Performing Arts Facilties

    State-of-the-art venue for plays, music & performances.

  • Exhibition Space

    Caters for a 50% uplift in anticipated museum visitation.

  • Co-working Facilities

    For non-profit organisations, emerging, mid-tier and established artists, Jewish cultural institutions and more.

“Melbourne could get its own Jewish Lygon Street, showcasing the diaspora’s art, history and culture in the city’s south.”

— The Age

Enduring Benefits for the

Jewish and Wider Community

  • Arts & Culture Hub

    Arts & Culture Hub

    Live music, theatre, exhibitions, festivals

  • For All Australians

    For All Australians

    Open, inclusive, multicultural

  • Jewish Heritage

    Jewish Heritage

    A celebration of Jewish life, history, and creativity

  • Iconic Location

    Iconic Location

    In the heart of the Elsternwick Cultural Precinct

  • Destination Precinct

    Destination Precinct

    Food, retail, public spaces, community

  • Bold Vision

    Bold Vision

    Australia's first dedicated Jewish cultural precinct

  • Going Green

    Going Green

    Environmentally sustainable design

  • Social Cohesion

    Social Cohesion

    Promote multi-faith dialogue

  • State of the Art

    State of the Art

    Designed by MONA Architects, Fender Katsalidis

  • Funding

    Funding

    A partnership between Local, State & Federal Government & Philanthropy

  • Boost Economy

    Boost local jobs, interstate & international tourism

  • Your Impact

    Your Impact

    Help create a cultural legacy for generations to come

“Australia is a proudly multicultural nation. We will commit $18 million towards ensuring the Jewish Arts Quarter will be there to celebrate our diversity and the contributions of Jewish Australians for generations to come… Attracting visitors from interstate and overseas to Victoria, the Jewish Arts Quarter will be the home for exhibitions of international and cultural significance.”

— Hon. Richard Marles MP

Deputy Prime Minister

JAQ News

“At a time when we are witnessing a significant rise in antisemitism and other forms of racism, and when community divisions are threatening the very fabric of our society, infrastructure projects such as the Jewish Arts Quarter offer a vital platform for fostering healing, education, connection and communal growth within the Australian community.”

— Vivienne Nguyen AM

Chairperson, Victorian Multicultural Commission

Videos

Mark Raphael Baker (1959-2023), renowned historian, teacher, and writer, is celebrated for his lifelong commitment to bearing witness and exploring humanity. For the first time, an exhibition of Mark’s photography is being shown at The Jewish M
The Archibald Prize is a prestigious Australian art award for portrait painting, established in 1921 and run by the @artgalleryofnsw. Big congrats to this years’ winner Julie Fragar! @julie.fragar Did you know that several Jewish artists have
✨ “Chutzpah: Spirit. Recollection. Self.” ✨ is a vibrant showcase of over 20 loaned and newly commissioned artworks from Melbourne, New York, Berlin, London, Tel Aviv and beyond, who use a range of art forms such as painting, sculpture, p
What a week for JAQ and it’s only Wednesday! 🙌😁

Our sincere gratitude to @joshburnsmp for his unwavering commitment over many years and for kick-starting this incredible campaign for JAQ. From his early days as a junior staffer in former Pre
📢 Major Announcement: Coalition Commits $18M to JAQ! 🎉 JAQ has received another huge boost! A Coalition Government led by Peter Dutton has pledged $18M to help bring this transformative cultural precinct to life in Victoria. This funding support
The Federal Labor Government has made a momentous 2025 pre-election commitment with a landmark investment of $18 million for JAQ to help transform Elsternwick into a vibrant Jewish cultural and community hub!! This is a huge, incredible and pivotal s

“I strongly believe this project will have a profound impact on promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity; supporting the arts sector and local business; and enhancing the quality of life for our constituents.”

— Josh Burns

Federal Member for Macnamara