Over the years the hub has hosted artists, activists and public figures, including a visit in 2022 from the King, then Prince Charles, and has steadily built a reputation for openness and innovation.
William Galinsky, director of programming, describes shaping a season as finding the “golden thread” that connects each event, creating a cohesive whole while allowing space for distinct voices. This b’mitzvah season mirrors the stages of a Jewish coming of age: preparing the Torah portion, celebrating with family and friends, and stepping into adulthood.
Galinsky acknowledges the pressures on the sector, from ongoing challenges in arts funding to the impact of 7 October on Jewish organisations, but emphasises JW3’s commitment to openness and tikkun olam (repairing the world). “It’s not been easy,” he says, though he remains optimistic, pointing to past projects such as the multifaith collaboration Little Amal, which brought a 12-foot puppet of a Syrian child refugee to the venue in April 2023, when Passover, Easter and Ramadan coincided.
