Image:Alex Cropper (left) with Josh Jones (right) who will take over the role this August.
Alex Cropper to step down after 16 years in the role, with Joshua Jones to take over in August 2024
Manchester Jewish Museum is set to undergo a leadership change as Alex Cropper, its long-serving Curator and Deputy Chief Executive, prepares to step down after more than 16 years in the role. Cropper will be succeeded by Joshua Jones, who brings experience from notable institutions such as Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum and Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum.
Cropper’s departure, scheduled for next month, is prompted by her decision to pursue an MA in Sustainable Heritage Building Management. Reflecting on her tenure, Cropper noted the significant evolution of the museum: “The museum is a totally different place to the museum I first joined. Obviously, it has physically changed but we are also so much more ambitious in terms of our programming and reach.”
Jones, who most recently served as Community Curator for the Sound and Vision Project at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, expressed enthusiasm about his new role. “I’m a child of diaspora myself, so I see so much of my own experience reflected in the gallery’s themes of journeys, communities, and identities,” Jones stated. He also highlighted his interest in the museum’s on-site cafe, which he views as an extension of the gallery experience.
Acknowledging the legacy he inherits, Jones added, “Alex has done an amazing job caring for the Manchester Jewish Museum for the last 16 years. She’ll be sorely missed. It’s a privilege to be picking up what she’s putting down, and a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”
The transition is set to take place in August 2024, marking a new chapter for the Manchester Jewish Museum while building on the foundation laid during Cropper’s tenure.
