Who We Are

Founded in 1991 in New York City, the American Guild of Judaic Art’s continuing mission has been to support Jewish artists by promoting awareness of fine art and ritual objects created in the Jewish spirit. Over nearly three decades the Guild has developed programs and services for artists and their communities:

Rachel Rowen, Honey Dish

  • In 1993, the organization created Jewish Arts Week, a weekly arts and events calendar.
  • The AGJA website was first launched in 1999, providing a venue for our members to show their work, create community, and offer educational and networking resources.
  • In 2011, the Guild began publication of Hiddur, our quarterly news and events magazine.
  • The Guild initiated Jewish Arts Month in March of 2013, an educational event which included online and on-site member exhibitions, a national events calendar, and local programs given by members in their communities.
  • In 2014, the Guild updated their website and entered social media with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. Instagram was added in 2019.

Over the years the AGJA has sponsored other events and initiatives including: educational panels at national Jewish organizational meetings; member forums on the website discussing intellectual property laws and what differentiates Jewish art; sponsoring member get-togethers, events and celebrations; and creating a visual arts online mentoring program for students in grades 7-12.

In early 2019, the AGJA sponsored its first members trip to Israel and launched three new grants: a working artist grant, an emerging artist grant and an educational grant.  In the winter of 2019, Jewish Creativity International (JCI) became our fiscal sponsor.

In the summer of 2020, the Guild launched its re-designed website.  The board created a fourth grant-funding category specifically for makers of Judaica.  Also that summer, the AGJA and JCI launched a pilot program allowing Guild members to submit proposals for grant-funding that require 501(c)(3) certification.

American Guild of Judaic Art Officers and
Board of Directors

President
Robin Atlas, Seattle, WA
www.threadbareart.com
www.vectorartistinitiative.com

Vice President
Shoshannah Brombacher, Berlin, Germany
www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/s/shoshannah/

Treasurer
Nancy Current, Seattle, WA
www.ncurrent.com
www.vectorartistinitiative.com

Past Presidents of the American Guild of
Judaic Art

1991 – 1992: Co-Presidents Michael Berkowicz and Laura Kruger
1993 – 1996: Michael Berkowicz
1997 – 2000: Mark D. Levin
2001 – 2002: Steve Medwin
2003 – 2004: David Klass
2005 – 2009: David Ascalon
2010 – 2012: Flora Rosefsky
2013 – 2014: Jim Cohen
2015 – 2015: Karen Walanka
2016 – 2018: Shoshannah Brombacher