The Wende Museum Of The Cold War Inc

THE WENDE IS AN ART MUSEUM, HISTORICAL ARCHIVE OF THE COLD WAR, AND CENTER FOR CREATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT EXPLORES AND INSPIRES CHANGE.

COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS:COLLECTIONS: THE WENDE MAINTAINS MULTIPLE STORAGE LOCATIONS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA AND IN GERMANY, WHICH TOGETHER HOUSE ITS COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 100,000 COLD WAR CULTURAL ARTIFACTS FROM EASTERN EUROPE AND THE SOVIET UNION.DURING FY 2021, THE MUSEUM ACQUIRED 350 NEW GROUPS OF ITEMS, INCLUDING - DEMOBILIZATION ALBUMS-HANDMADE ALBUMS CREATED BY SOVIET SOLDIERS SHORTLY BEFORE THE END OF THEIR MILITARY SERVICE, WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, DRAWINGS, OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, LETTERS, AND OTHER ITEMS FROM THEIR PERIOD OF SERVICE. - PAINTINGS FOR TEXTILE DESIGNS BY ANNA ANDREEVA, INCLUDING RESEARCH MATERIALS AND PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS- THE ARCHIVE OF A CHECHOSLOVAK JEWISH TEXTILE INDUSTRY STUDENT- ITEMS FROM A HUNGARIAN AUCTION, INCLUDING SEVERAL PIECES OF ZSOLNAY PORCELAIN AND A PAINTING BY MRIA TRY- ITEMS FROM AN AUCTION FROM THE FORMER KGB MUSEUM, INCLUDING KGB SPY CAMERAS AND FACIAL RECOGNITION TRAINING MATERIALS- CHINESE FLAGS AND BANNERS FROM THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION THE MUSEUM ALSO RECEIVED DONATED ITEMS RELATING TO THE REFUSENIK MOVEMENT, INCLUDING SOVIET JEWISH SAMIZDAT MATERIALS; THE COLLECTION OF FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA JIM COLLINS; THE LIBRARY OF JIM HEAD, WHO WORKED WITH THE NASA APOLLO PROGRAM; AND THE LIBRARY AND PAPERS OF SERGEI KHRUSHCHEV, SON OF NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV AND SOVIET ENGINEER. THE MUSEUM ALSO ADDED TO EXISTING SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OF BRIGADE BOOKS AND MEISSEN PORCELAIN IN FY 2021. IN FY 2021, THE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT NEWLY CATALOGED MORE THAN 850 OBJECTS IN A CONTINUING EFFORT TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND COLLECTION RECORDS. THE MUSEUM ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO FACILITATE THE STORAGE AND SHARING OF IMAGES, MEDIA, AND OTHER DIGITIZED MATERIALS RELATING TO THE COLLECTION. EXHIBITIONS: THE WENDE PRESENTED TWO EXHIBITIONS IN FY 2021: SEE THY NEIGHBOR: STERN PHOTOGRAPHERS THOMAS HOEPKER AND HARALD SCHMITT IN THE GDR AND TRANSFORMATIONS: LIVING ROOM -> FLEA MARKET -> MUSEUM -> ART. IN ADDITION TO THE EXHIBITION THE MUSEUM ORGANIZED, IN 2021 THE WENDE CONTINUED ONGOING LOANS OF MATERIALS FROM ITS COLLECTIONS FOR EXHIBITIONS AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM, THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, AND THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:PUBLIC ACCESS: THE WENDE MUSEUM OFFERS FREE PUBLIC ACCESS TO ITS GALLERIES AND GARDENS ON FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, AND SUNDAYS FROM 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M., AND MONDAYS THROUGH THURSDAYS BY APPOINTMENT. THE MUSEUM WELCOMES APPROXIMATELY 15,000 VISITORS PER YEAR. THE WENDE ALSO PROVIDES FREE GLOBAL ACCESS TO ART AND ARTIFACTS THROUGH ITS ONLINE COLLECTIONS, AND HOSTS AN ARRAY OF ONLINE EVENTS ATTENDED BY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. THE WENDE PRESENTED 45 PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN FY 2021, INCLUDING 7 ON-SITE PROGRAMS AND 38 ONLINE PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDED LECTURES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, FILM SCREENINGS, AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES. IN-PERSON EVENTS WERE FEWER THAN IN TYPICAL YEARS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. ALL EVENTS WERE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE. EDUCATION: THE WENDE PRODUCED A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS IN FY 2021:- HIGH-SCHOOL DOCENT PROGRAM- SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS- ARTS WORKSHOPS - FAMILY DAY ACTIVITIES- THE WENDE TEEN COUNCIL - ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMINGTHE MUSEUM ALSO TRAINED 15 COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY INTERNS IN MUSEUM SKILLS, IN A COMBINATION OF IN-PERSON AND REMOTE INTERNSHIPS. THERE WERE 12 COLLECTIONS INTERNS AND 3 CURATORIAL INTERNS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE WENDE PRIORITIZES COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS CORE TO THE MUSEUM'S MISSION. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:- MONTHLY FAMILY DAYS, WITH ALL-AGES ART ACTIVITIES TAUGHT BY MUSEUM STAFF OR TEACHING ARTISTS. - WELLNESS AT THE WENDE, WITH OFFERINGS LIKE FREE YOGA CLASSES IN THE WENDE MUSEUM GARDEN - AN ANNUAL GATHERING OF CULVER CITY NONPROFITS AT THE WENDE, CULMINATING IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE WENDE NONPROFIT TRANSITION PRIZE TO A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT IS INNOVATIVELY SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES:THE WENDE OPERATES A GIFT SHOP TO SELL PROGRAM-RELATED MERCHANDISE AND HOSTS EVENT RENTALS TO PROMOTE THE VENUE.