Jewish Institute’s Arts Center to Open Soon

After suffering a devastating loss of four buildings in the Northridge earthquake, the Brandeis-Bardin Institute is ready to open its new arts and conference center, including a library, dining center and “main house.”

To celebrate the rebuilding of the Jewish educational and cultural center, the institute will host a festival Sept. 14 with music, Israeli folk dancing, picnicking, swimming and tours of the rustic but elegant new facility.

Stone fireplaces fell, stained glass shattered and walls crumbled in the 1994 quake. Replacing the buildings cost $11 million--about half coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and half from hundreds of donors who have attended summer camp, elder hostels, lectures and outdoor performances at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute over its 56-year history.

“We’re trying so hard to let people know that we didn’t crash with the earthquake,” said Kim Miller, the institute’s director of development. “We’re still here. We’re open.”

The institute will launch its inaugural art exhibit in the new buildings Oct. 19. In the exhibit “Shelter: Artists Create for the Sukkah”--or a temporary shelter built to commemorate the harvest holiday--50 contemporary artists will display their talent.

For information on the dedication, call Miller at 582-4450. For information about the art exhibit, call Carrie Ungerman at the same number.