Friends
of Bezalel
Friends of Bezalel believe that art and education are the best forms of diplomacy. Our mission is to support Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem, Israel’s largest, oldest, and most prestigious Academy for art, design, and architecture, led by the belief that through the impact of its diverse student body and pluralist values, Bezalel is influencing and shaping civil society and humanity.
Founded in 1906, Bezalel represents Israel’s eternal creative flame and has evolved over almost 120 years to educate, inform, and nurture aspiring artists, designers, and architects. In its spectacular new central Jerusalem campus, Bezalel is serving 2500 students each year through 10 Bachelor’s departments and 5 Master’s programs.
Friends of Bezalel nurture this innovative cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural ecosystem. We are supporting specialized departments led by Israel’s leading practitioners, scholarships, capital projects, and collaborative partnerships with academic institutions abroad.
Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design — A beacon in the heart of Jerusalem
Support the Community
Friends of Bezalel has created an Emergency Student Support Fund to show the artists and designers of Bezalel that we have their back as they navigate crises at home. The Fund provides scholarship aid, stipends, and emotional and academic support for young creatives at Bezalel whose lives have drastically been affected since October 7.
15% of Bezalel’s students are or have been recently serving in the IDF; 11% are Israeli Arabs and East Jerusalem Palestinians who are struggling in various ways; and hundreds of students from over 200 towns and cities in Israel who relied on the industries affected by the war to support themselves are now without income. Bezalel has recently seen a 30% increase in requests for financial aid, which is approximately 400 students and growing, amounting to an annual need of roughly $1.5 million in scholarship aid and another $700,000+ in other forms of support.
More than ever, Friends of Bezalel is offering a lifeline to these young creatives in parallel to helping safeguard the type of future we all envision for Israel.