Giving Compass' Take:

• Eyal Sher, writing for eJewish Philanthropy, explains how the art scene in Jerasulem helps build empathy between different cultures and how this can lead to significant community transformation. 

• How can donors invest in artist communities that are working on engagement between neighborhoods?

• Read about how and why to fund impactful art.

When I was given the suggested theme for this piece, my first thought was shouldn’t the title rather be “Can Art Transform a Community?” Can it?

Of course, artists believe it can – the wish to positively impact political, cultural and social realities is often a significant component in the desire and actual choice to be an artist.

It’s easy to see how art serves as a bridge between different communities and cultures when considering shared living projects such as an Israeli-Arab youth orchestra at the Herb Alpert Center in Jerusalem, or the iconic, now defunct I Am You Are Arab-Israeli video workshop at the Jerusalem Cinematheque.

Jerusalem boasts some of the best art academies in the country, amongst them the world renowned Sam Spiegel Film and TV School, the School of Visual Theatre, the Musrara Naggar School of Interdisciplinary Art and Society and others. Yet one of the most elusive goals remains keeping the young graduates in the city after graduation. Limited career opportunities are only one of the considerations for young people starting out their lives – political tensions, religious fanaticism and cultural differences are the more defining components in the decision.

Artists have a way to break through the real and imaginary walls that separate us and touch us. Make us think. Make us question. Challenge our preconceptions. Make us empathic.

Empathy can transform community.

Read the full article about how art transforms a community by Eyal Sher at eJewish Philanthropy.