Where Arab and Jewish Youth from Jerusalem create Art Together
Bridging the Gap

Jerusalem is a city in which both Jewish and Arab children live. However, due to their different language, culture, neighborhoods, as well as the separate school systems that they attend, they never have the chance to meet each other.

Together with our partner The Israel Museum, we run the course "Bridging the Gap", which provides a shared space for Jerusalem youth from both sides of the city, and enables them to meet and interact through joint art lessons.

The Jewish-Arab art course has been operating from 1994, the last 26 years, in the Ruth Youth Wing of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Since 2019, the Hanns Seidel Foundation is supporting this project, together with the Israel Museum German friend’s organization.  The languages of the course are Arabic and Hebrew. All introduction are made in both languages. For group desiccations and the creative part, the project facilitates translators, so that the youngsters can communicate with each other.

The program takes place from mid-October throughout the school year. The meetings are held in the classrooms of the Ruth Youth Wing for Art Education, as well as in the Museum galleries, combining hands-on artistic workshops with guided gallery tours.

As a place of art and culture, The Israel Museum represents a safe place that supports connectivity and the acceptance of the other. Producing art together facilitates the bridging of gaps heightened by stereotypes, cultural differences, and years of conflict between the two peoples.

Through this project, which raises the banner of tolerance and mutual understanding, we hope that the seeds planted in these youngsters grow into future understanding and peace between them.

Below some impressions of this year’s art work.