Arts Task Force
Chairs: Albert Ben-Shloush– Western Galilee
Coordinator: Shlomit Dagan-Deri
General Goal:
To increase the number of volunteers and to raise awareness of the Partnership through artistic activity.
Objectives:
1. To identify and connect artists in the communities with artists in the Western Galilee
2. To strengthen ties for purposes of planning and implementing artistic projects
3. To expose the Consortium and Western Galilee communities to Jewish and Israeli art
4. To strengthen local and regional artistic institutions.
Planning, marketing and implementation of the Western Galilee Performing Arts series in the Consortium communities:
The Western Galilee region has become the venue of a wide range of artistic activities, due to its unique demographic, geographic and human features. Internationally-acclaimed artistic organizations are active in the Western Galilee, and the Partnership has offered the Consortium communities the opportunity to experience a sampling of this activity, in the form of a performance series featuring four professional groups during the 2007/8 season. The project meets the Task Force’s four main objectives, and may be expected to ensure broad exposure for Partnership activity within the community.
Keshet Eilon –November 9-18, 2007
Omaha, Nebraska - Length of stay: two days
Program: Saturday lunch at the homes of hosts, joint breakfast with the hosting families and the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha; tour of the city.
Concerts: Saturday night at the community center. Opening remarks by the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. The remarks included a description of the Partnership activity and mention of the performance series. At the end of the concert a reception was held for the performers and invited guests.
Audience: 120 (mixed ages)
Activity in the community in preparation for the visit: pre-concert marketing in the form of announcements in the Jewish newspaper, posters and postcards sent to invited guests. Recruitment of host families and coordination of the visit.
Des Moines, Iowa - Length of stay: two days
Program: Participation in a concert by the Des Moines Symphony. Rehearsals, joint lunch with the hosting families, tour of the city, cocktails for guests and hosts at the home of a Symphony violinist.
Concerts: Monday evening in a performance space that serves the local Jewish community. At the end of the concert a conversation/discussion was held on the Partnership’s activity, including a review of what went on during the war, emergency funds, etc., with emphasis on the hospital and plans for the future. Reception for performers and invited guests.
Audience: 160 (another 20 stood in the back due to lack of space)
Activity in the community in preparation for the visit: pre-concert marketing in the form of announcements in the local and national press, postcards sent to invited guests.
Exposure to the general public. Recruitment of host families and coordination of the visit.
Canton, Ohio - Length of stay: three days
Program: Cocktails, receptions, tour of Cleveland and participation in a concert by the orchestra. The hosts took part in most of the activities, along with the group.
Concerts: a concert for the community. At the end of the concert, the Canton partnership chair talked about the partnership.
Audience: 120 (mixed ages)
Concerts: Concert for a public school. At the end of the concert the Canton Partnership chair talked about the Partnership
Audience: 350 (parents and pupils involved in the school orchestra)
Additional activity: Master classes
Activity in the community in preparation for the visit: pre-concert marketing in the form of announcements in the local and national press, the creation of a website, radio interviews, poster and postcards sent to invited guests. Extensive exposure to the general public. Recruitment of host families and coordination of the visit.
Akron, Ohio - Length of stay: three hours
Program: visit to the community building
Concerts: a half-hour long concert for pupils at the Lippman Jewish Day School.
Audience: 50
Dayton, Ohio - Length of stay: two days
Program: Friday night dinner in the offices of the Levin Family Foundation, with members of the Foundation Board, a former executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, and representatives of the Partnership committee.Tour of the city.
Concerts: Saturday night at the Art Institute in Dayton.Post-concert reception.
Audience: 80
Activity in the community in preparation for the visit: pre-concert marketing in the form of announcements in the local press.
During 2008 the following groups will be visiting the communities:
Chalil Bagalil - January 23-31, 2008 – to Louisville, Omaha, Dayton and Canton
Gaaton Dance Group - February 14-31, 2008 – Louisville, Omaha, Canton
Akko Theater - March21- April 1, 2008 – Omaha, Dayton, Canton, Dallas, Indianapolis
Artist in residence - Application form at the end of this report
In light of the project’s success last year, the Partnership’s Arts Task Force is again offering the opportunity for artists from the communities to visit the Western Galilee for a six-day period, during which they will work together with residents of the region. The project includes the design and painting of public buildings on kibbutzim, moshavim and in Akko.
Project dates: July
The Western Galilee, 1948-2008: Sixty Years of Activity in the Western Galilee – traveling photo exhibition in honor of Israel’s 60th Independence Day
Residents of the Western Galilee will be invited to submit 3 photos taken in the Western Galilee that reflect 60 years of activity in the region. Each participant will also submit, in addition to the photos, his/her personal story as a resident of the Western Galilee.
The Israeli-American team will select 20-40 photos from among those submitted, for an exhibition in the region and for production of a disk to be sent to all of the communities. In this way the communities will be able to reproduce the exhibit on their own, as part of the festivities for Israel’s 60th.
OHR (Light) Photo Competition
Inspired by Genesis 1:14 (“God said, 'There shall be lights in the heavenly sky to divide between day and night. They shall serve as omens [and define] festivals, days and years”).
Call to artists from the US communities and the Western Galilee to submit 3-5 original photographs. The photos will be uploaded onto a website that will serve as a platform for exhibiting the works and for the creation of a dialogue with other artists.
The winning photos will be chosen by Partnership volunteers (via electronic vote) and by the Israeli-American task force on art.
The 30 winning photos will be mounted as an exhibition to be displayed in public institutions in the Western Galilee and the communities.
Objectives for Summer 2008:
1. To rebuild the task force on both sides with veteran and new participants.
2. To bring Israel to the communities via artistic programs
3. To expand opportunities for interpersonal encounter through joint activity
4. To find a new approach to Jewish identity, through art
2008 Artist in Residency Program July, 2008
Your opportunity to make personal connections with people in the Western Galilee and enhance our Partnership with Israel Programs.
Wanted:
Artists to collaborate on murals and permanent art pieces with local residents in Akko
The Partnership provides:
· Lodging, transportation to art sites
· Breakfast, lunch, and home hospitality dinners
· Scheduled Local trips in the Western Galilee
· Art materials
The artist provides:
· Round trip flight costs
· Health insurance
· Private local transportation
· Any additional private meals or activities
For more information and to submit an Artist Application (second page of the attachment), contact Shlomit Dagan-Deri shlomitd@jazo.org.il or Kim Goldberg kim_goldberg@gallup.com
Partnership 2000, a program of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the UJC, promotes people-to-people relationships between 14 Jewish communities and Israel’s Western Galilee through cultural, social, medical, educational and economic programs. Akron, Canton, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown, Ohio; Indianapolis, Northwest Indiana, South Bend, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Des Moines, Iowa, Omaha, Nebraska; Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth and San Antonio, Texas are linked with the Western Galilee, the most northern part of Israel on the Mediterranean coast.
Artist Application
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
City: ___________________ State:________________________ Zip: ________________
Telephone number: _______________________ Cell phone number: ____________________
Fax: ___________________________ Email: ___________________________________
Are you a member of The Jewish Federation? (Circle one) Yes No
Please tell us about yourself _____________________________________________________
Please describe your art experience _______________________________________________
Why should you be chosen for this residency?_______________________________________
Please e-mail 3-5 color photos of your work along with this application to Shlomit Dagan-Deri shlomitd@jazo.org.il and Kim Goldberg kim_goldberg@gallup.com by May 1st, 2008.