Israel

Rachel DeGraw

__**Introduction**__ The official name of Israel is the State of Israel. It is defined as a Jewish and Democratic State and is currently the world's only Jewish-majority state. Israel is located in southwestern Asia along the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of Israel is Jerusalem which is located near the center of the country. Art and art schools were a part of the fabric of Jewish life before the founding of Israel in 1948. Israel has established numerous art schools throughout the country which prepare students for their lives as professional artists. The Israeli education system supports the Cultural Administration which involves the promotion of original art; the encouragement of public involvement in art and culture; and the dissemination of art and culture throughout the country, in the school systems and beyond.

Itzhak Perlman was born August 31, 1945 in Israel. He is a violinist, conductor, and instructor of masters level courses. He is regarded as one of the preeminent violinists of the 20th and early-21st centuries. He has performed at a variety of venues and establishments including Carnegie Hall in 1963, the White House in 2007 for a state dinner attended by Queen Elizabeth II and at the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama. As well as playing and recording the classical music for which he is best known, Perlman has also played jazz, including an album made with jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, and klezmer. In 1964 Itzhak Perlman won the Leventritt Competition, a highly prestigious international competition for classical pianists and violinists. Perlman has also been a soloist for a number of movies including the 1993 film Schindler's List by John Williams.
 * __Proflie of an accomplished artist__**

The Association of Israel's Decorative Arts (AIDA) mission is to foster the development of contemporary decorative artists from Israel by connecting them to an international audience of galleries, institutions and collectors. AIDA’s programs include: connecting artists with galleries; exhibiting works at international art fairs and significant craft fairs; providing scholarships, residencies and summer teaching positions at prominent craft schools; supporting participation in conferences like NCECA and the GAS conference and finding venues for museum shows. These programs allow artists from Israel the opportunity to exchange ideas, techniques, and approaches to their work with a broad and diverse audience. In 2011, the Association of Israel's Decorative Arts formalized their relationships with the Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, Haystack Mountain School, Penland School, Pilchuck Glass School and Watershed Center for Ceramics. Within these educational facilities the AIDA has been giving scholarships to artists and helping to place teachers from Israel at the great Summer Studio Craft Programs in the United States.
 * __Successful arts organization__**

__**School arts programs**__ The following are a list of subjects in the k-12 education in Israel: Contemporary Society History Geography Zionist Thought Israel Advocacy Religious Studies Hebrew Language When searching for information regarding arts in education in Israel I found it extremely discouraging. I was not able to find any information to work from that involved direct art education in the schools. What I did find was several organizations that promoted art in Israel, and I now I know why. Listed above are the core subjects offered in k-12 schools in Israel. It seems that while art is highly valued in the cultural community, the educational system does not promote art in a significant way. I am not sure why there is a lack of offering in the schools. What I do know is that the community makes up for the lack of art education in schools by incorporating the many organizations into schools as much as possible.

__**Conclusion**__ As I have stated several times before, I grew up with art and creativity as the center of my learning. I had teachers in my schooling who felt that art was a crucial part of my becoming an educated student. When researching the art education in Israel I found it astonishing how different the two experiences were, my own experience and that of the students in Israel. While the community does have several out-reach programs for students to find comfort in, there is no art in their core curriculum which would allow for daily exposure and creation. I was very surprised by the amount of community based art programs. I am sure if I researched any specific country I would find numerous organizations focused on supporting art but I am sure majority of those countries would also have art in their educational system. Because of the lack of art in schools I was very surprised and impressed with the community involvement to encourage art and creativity among students and aspiring artists.

http://www.aidaarts.org/mission.php http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aida-Association-of-Israels-Decorative-Arts/229918977061496 http://jewisharteducation.com/Israel.html http://virtualmelton.huji.ac.il/course/view.php?id=49