Driving though the city of Maalot you are greeted by various sculptures set against the background of the beautiful Meron Mountains. This picturesque town is home to many artistic individuals from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim backgrounds. There is a distinctive dynamic of cooperation in the municipality due to its integration with its neighbor Tarshiha. These two villages, one Jewish and one Arab, were merged to make one unified town in 1963 and then in 1996 they were given status as a city. The merger was completely unique to Israel's history and has resulted in increasing the living standards and flow of ideas between all peoples involved in the area. One place this can be seen is in the Maalot-Tarshiha Barrer Art Center.

Currently on exhibit are works based on the subject of marriage. Some are Jewish pieces and others Muslim; each unique to their artists influences. Pieces range from wedding preparations, the ceremony itself, and the wedding night. The Art Center is funded by the government and private contributions, but it also works to give back to the community through art instruction.

The Kokhav Center, a center which fosters the treatment and the support of regional individuals with mental disabilities and is sponsored by the Marseilles France Jewish Community and the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA) in conjunction with the Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000 Project; regularly participates in such types of programming. Noga Migdal who runs the Barrer Art Center and the program spoke about how the cooperation between the two organizations is beneficial to all those involved, "It is important to the individuals (from the Kokhav Center) to learn art and interact with artists, and it is important to us to be able to reach out to the community."

Students come and learn not only how to produce art for their own personal enrichment, but also as a means to independence through earning a living. Presently there is an exchange program between the Art Center and Japanese artists who are teaching the participants how to make paper mache, among other projects. Those who learn such valuable life skills then can partake in the Kokhav Center's arts workshops where the individuals create various pieces for sale within Israel and receive the profits as salary.

For More Information about the Barrer Art Center please contact Noga at nogaarts@maltor.org and for further information about The Kokhav Center please visit their website at www.maltar.org.il/cochav/.