OVERVIEW
Open to the public since 1996, the Skirball is one of the world's most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions and among the leading cultural venues in Los Angeles. Regardless of background or circumstance, the Skirball brings all people together to celebrate American democratic ideals and explore Jewish identity through museum exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives, and community events that foster a more peaceful coexistence.
MISSION
The Skirball Cultural Center is a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. We welcome people of all communities and generations to participate in cultural experiences that celebrate discovery and hope, foster human connections, and call upon us to help build a more just society.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS:
Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America
Featuring changing displays of works from the Skirball’s permanent collection of Judaica—one of the largest in the world—this historically illuminating exhibition chronicles the struggles and achievements of the Jewish people over a span of four thousand years.
This award-winning children's and family destination invites visitors of all generations to play, climb, build, make-believe, and make friends—all while exploring an eight-thousand square-foot wooden ark filled to the rafters with whimsical animals. Share in a timeless story—and together envision a better world.
TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS:
Outsiders, Outcasts, Rebels + Weirdos Punk Culture 1976–86
This exhibition traces the connective tissue of punk across key scenes in the United States and the United Kingdom, with a focus on New York, London, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Opening in spring 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of punk in the United States, this original exhibition celebrates how a generation of misfits—including Jewish punks—challenged the rules, reimagined community, and helped reshape culture from the margins.
Robert Russell and Lisa Edelstein: A Palace in Time
Enter an intimate and moving portrait of Jewish life through new paintings by Robert Russell and Lisa Edelstein—two Los Angeles-based artists and partners in life. The exhibition reflects on how memory lives within us all—through the objects we hold dear, the stories we inherit, and the rituals that shape our days.
Inventing America: The Comic Book Revolution
Explore the United States in the twentieth century through the lens of the American art form: the comic book. Inventing America: The Comic Book Revolution examines how this art form became a revolutionary cultural medium, shaping national identity through distinctive stories and characters. Featuring original artwork and rare artifacts, the exhibition connects comic storytelling to defining national experiences: World War II, the social upheavals of the 1960s, the cultural impact of pop art and hip-hop, and ongoing movements for justice and equality.
Common Ground by Adam Silverman
Los Angeles–based artist Adam Silverman collected clay, water, and wood ash from all fifty American states, Washington DC, and the five inhabited US Territories and combined them to create a set of tableware and ceremonial pots. The resulting 224 ceramic objects, titled Common Ground, is a community-activated artwork that celebrates American pluralism while also fostering human connection through shared meals and collaborative installations.
PROGRAMS
Through school tours, classroom visits, and teacher workshops, the Roslyn and Abner Goldstine School Programs at the Skirball for TK through Grade 12 students explore commonalities across cultures, transport students to key moments in history, teach students about Jewish life to combat antisemitism, and spark creativity and imagination.
Inspired by our permanent exhibitions, Visions & Values and Noah’s Ark at the Skirball, the Skirball offers free online resources for K-12 Educators to connect students to Jewish stories, people, history, and culture; and illuminate how even the youngest members of our community can make a difference.
From adult education classes and illuminating conversations to Outdoor Movies and Sunset Concerts, the Skirball draws upon Jewish values and tradition to present a wide array of public programs for people of all cultural backgrounds.