After receiving the public tender, the Fundación HispanoJudía (FHJ) has received an impressive building from the Madrid Metro which will host the new state-of-the-art Hispanic Jewish Museum.
The headquarters of the museum will be located on a property owned by the Madrid Metro, which awarded the building through a public tender and on a rental basis agreement. The 21, Castello St. building is considered an architectural gem in the heart of Madrid’s Salamanca neighborhood.
The FHJ has been working since 2016 in order to bring to life the museum, its flagship project. "The Hispanic Jewish Museum aims to explore and display the common history between the Jewish and the Spanish-speaking worlds, numbering around 600 million globally, illuminating our shared values," said David Hatchwell, President of the FHJ.
"The innovative museum, which is expected to be completed by December 2025, will feature interactive exhibitions, priceless items of great historical value from important collectors, and cutting-edge technology. It will guide visitors through centuries of history and will allow them to discover the richness and diversity of Jewish culture within the Hispanic and Sephardic context, with the clear aim of building bridges toward a better future," the organization said.
The building will be meticulously renovated and restored, respecting the original work of Spanish architect Antonio Palacios.
It will combine the grandeur of its original structure with advanced technology and innovative exhibition spaces. In order to achieve this, a team of renowned national and international architects and conservation experts will be involved.
Experts from around the world are working hand in hand in order to gather collections of historical items, documents, and artworks that will be exhibited in the museum, as well as new technological formats that will allow visitors to experience cognitive, sensory, and emotional experiences with attractive aesthetics.
The MHJ has a strong international network of friends and collaborators that will amplify its activities in other countries. This global network of friends of the FHJ organizations has become a powerful tool for transmitting and disseminating Spanish, Sephardic, and Hispanic culture, as well as values such as tolerance and diversity.
The future Museum will collaborate with educational centers in Spain, Europe, and Latin America, as well as with collectors and prestigious institutions from around the world, including ANU, Yad Vashem, The Hispanic Society of NY, Myheritage.com, The American Sephardi Federation, the Red de Juderías de España, The Museum of the Bible (Washington DC) and Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
In addition to a physical space, the museum will have a digital platform, which will be connected to the museum in order to offer an unlimited and customized experience in space and time.