Former CEO Gareth Redston reflects on a decade of transformation, community-building, and cultural innovation at Manchester Jewish Museum.
Gareth Redston’s tenure at Manchester Jewish Museum spanned a pivotal period of transformation, including the museum’s complete redevelopment and a renewed focus on community engagement and inclusivity. The former CEO recently shared reflections on his remarkable 10-year journey with the institution.
Gareth, who came to the museum after working at the Museum of Science and Industry, was initially drawn to the Jewish Museum by its ambition to become something new – a space not only for preserving history but for actively shaping the cultural fabric of Cheetham Hill, one of Manchester’s most diverse neighbourhoods.
“I was fascinated by the challenge of creating a Jewish museum in what is no longer a Jewish community,” he said. “It’s a place of new arrival, where people come from all over the world to find homes in Manchester. The question was: how do we make the museum relevant and useful to both diverse local communities and to Jewish communities who may not feel at home in traditional spaces?”
Gareth joined as Head of Learning at a time when the museum had just received its first National Lottery funding. Over time, his role evolved in line with the institution’s growing ambitions – eventually becoming Head of Programmes and later, in 2021, CEO.
At the heart of Gareth’s work was a strong commitment to audience development and community engagement. Rather than engaging different communities in isolation, he focused on finding shared interests that could bring people together. The most powerful of these, he found, was food.
“Food became central to everything we did,” he explained. “Making bread, cooking and eating together – it allowed people from different backgrounds to connect in meaningful ways. When we rebuilt the museum, we made sure to include a community kitchen to support that work.”
The kitchen became a symbol of the museum’s ethos: open, inclusive, and rooted in shared human experiences. Alongside food, music and participatory art were also used to build bridges between communities. The museum’s synagogue space hosted performative events that connected people through creativity and storytelling.
In 2018, the museum became a National Portfolio Organisation with the Arts Council, a milestone that significantly expanded its programming capacity. Then, in 2021, the new museum finally opened – an achievement Gareth described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It was a privilege to work on a project like that,” he said. “We didn’t just redesign a building – we reimagined what the museum could be. Everything was co-created with the communities we serve.”
Gareth was part of a small core team, along with then-CEO Max and Curator Alex, who led the redevelopment. From concept to construction, the trio worked collaboratively to ensure the new museum reflected the diversity and aspirations of its neighbourhood.
Beyond the museum walls, Gareth also served as Chair of the Cheetham Cultural Festival for eight years. The festival brings together more than 150 community groups to celebrate the area’s rich cultural mix.
“Cheetham Hill is a really special place,” he said. “It gets a lot of negative press, but the people are incredible. It makes complete sense for the Jewish Museum to be there – it’s a place that truly celebrates diversity.”
After a decade of service, Gareth felt it was the right time to pass the baton. With the new museum firmly established and its community-focused mission embedded in its DNA, he decided to move on and seek a new challenge.
He has now joined Bolton’s Octagon Theatre as Director of Creative Engagement and Impact. In his new role, he continues his mission to make cultural institutions more relevant and impactful, particularly in areas of high deprivation and low cultural participation.
“Bolton shares many similarities with Cheetham Hill,” Gareth said. “It’s evolving rapidly in terms of its diversity. I’m excited to be part of that journey – working to make the theatre meaningful to all parts of the community.”
His legacy at Manchester Jewish Museum is one of transformation, rooted in empathy, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the power of culture to connect. As he steps into his next chapter, it’s clear that Gareth’s passion for inclusive community engagement will continue to shape the cultural landscape of the North West for years to come.
