Skirball Cultural Center facts for kids
The Skirball Cultural Center is a special place in Los Angeles, California. It opened in 1996. This center helps people learn about Jewish culture and history. It is named after Jack H. Skirball and Audrey Skirball-Kenis, who were very generous.
The Skirball Center welcomes everyone, no matter their age or background. It has a museum with cool exhibits that change often. You can also enjoy movies, music, theater, and other fun events. The center has a museum, a place for shows, classrooms, libraries, gardens, and a café.
Contents
Explore the Skirball Museum
The Skirball Museum actually started before the Cultural Center. It opened in 1972 at the Hebrew Union College. When the Skirball Cultural Center was finished, the museum moved there.
The main exhibit is called Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America. It tells the story of Jewish people over 4,000 years. You can see old objects, historical papers, photos, and art. There are also interactive screens and sound recordings. These help you follow the journey of Jewish people, especially their experiences in the United States.
The museum has over 30,000 items in its collection. These include ancient artifacts and Jewish objects from all over the world. There are also items showing everyday life in the U.S. since the 1850s.
Amazing Architecture
The Skirball Cultural Center was designed by a famous architect named Moshe Safdie. It is built in the Santa Monica Mountains. This area is close to the Sepulveda Pass. The buildings fit well with the natural surroundings.
Discover Noah's Ark
The Noah's Ark galleries are a very popular part of the Skirball Center. They were designed by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects. Jim Olson led the design of the Ark itself. Alan Maskin created the fun, hands-on exhibits. He also helped design almost 300 animal figures.
Some of these animals are life-sized puppets. Staff members can operate them, bringing the stories to life. Outside, the Noah's Ark area has a special rainbow mist. This was created by Moshe Safdie and artist Ned Kahn. It makes you feel like you are right there after the flood.
Fun Public Programs
The Skirball Cultural Center offers many different public programs. You can see live music, theater shows, and poetry readings. They also have film screenings and talks about books. There is always something interesting happening for visitors of all ages.
Learning and Education
Each year, about 60,000 schoolchildren and teachers visit the Skirball. These students come from many different backgrounds in Southern California. The center has a special discovery area for families. It includes a pretend dig site and a field tent. Here, visitors can learn about ancient Israel and the Near East.
