Bezalel, Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem

Mission Statement

Established in 1906, Bezalel is the largest and oldest art and design school in Israel. Bezalel's long-lasting mission is to foster creativity, critical thinking, and excellency through broad-based education and practical skills proficiency. The promotion of forward-thinking through innovative pedagogy and interdisciplinary experimental research comes with an abiding commitment to Bezalel's distinguished legacy as a fundamental part of Israel's cultural foundation and its dedication to the immediate and broader community and society at large.

International Role

Bezalel has a longstanding history of international dialogue with over 200 art schools and a growing number of partnerships with cultural institutes and multinational companies worldwide. We believe that art and design education must incorporate and be engaged in a global context.  Our faculty and student participates extensively in exchange programs, and collaborating with international partners in an intercultural environment through mutual learning, and creative and research projects. This provides an ideal platform for innovative ideas and discourse to flourish. What more, during the year we have several special workshops open to international students and faculty, and focus on learning from Bezalel's unique geographical environment such as the city of Jerusalem as a study case, the Dead Sea and the Desert, etc.  

As Bezalel continues to lead the Israeli art and design scene, it also continues to be a prestigious player internationally, putting Israeli art and design on the spotlights and opening new avenues for Bezalel’s students and faculty.

National Role

Since Bezalel’s foundation, crafts and skills are an essential part of it, while at the same time, there is an unequivocal encouragement to cultivate cutting-edge ideas, materials, and directions. Each of Bezalel’s programs presents students with traditional knowledge, tools, and materials collected over decades, alongside hands-on workshops and research projects that use advanced software and state of the art technologies. This is how Bezalel became synonymous with more than 100 years of Israeli art, innovation, and academic excellence. Its faculty and graduates spearhead the art, design, and architecture ecosystem in Israel, shaping the country’s cultural identity. As an integral part of the curriculum, there are numerous collaborations with partner academies and cultural institutions, as well as with industries to develop a range of projects. Throughout their Bezalel experience, students and faculty are encouraged to take an active role in their surrounding communities, collaborating on various projects and making important and meaningful contributions to society.  
 

Main Focus

As a preeminent academic institution for arts and design, Bezalel’s mission is to educate, inform, and nurture the next generation of artists, designers, and architects:

 Drawing from local inspiration.  Bezalel urges its students to draw upon local inspiration; by examining the confluence of contrasting cultures, styles, and values that Jerusalem and Israel present, students are taught how such interaction produces more insightful and exciting possibilities.

Engaging with the world. To prepare our students to be part of an international conversation, our curriculum provides many opportunities to engage and respond to universal challenges by questioning, researching, defining, and redefining concepts and ideas and to offer new perspectives and solutions.

Championing diversity and independent thinking. Bezalel’s commitment to a diverse population of students and faculty is well reflected in their multifaceted profiles. Stemming from all segments of society, this dynamic mix of people of varied religious, cultural, and socioeconomic origins and affiliations enriches and energizes the Academy, furthering disparate viewpoints and stimulating original and independent thinking.

Melding past, present, and future.  Each of Bezalel undergraduate and graduate degree programs presents students with traditional knowledge, tools, and materials alongside hands-on workshops that use advanced software and state of the art technologies, styles, and methodologies to inspire and innovate.

 Connecting with the community. Throughout their Bezalel experience, students and faculty are encouraged to take an active role in the communities they live in to understand and demonstrate that as artists and designers their creative citizenship can make important and meaningful contributions to the world around them.