3.2 million NIS will support variety of projects
promoting cultural inclusion of people with disabilities

Jerusalem (April 2, 2017) – The results of the Israeli part of the “Breaking Barriers” competition for grants from the prize fund of 2016 Genesis Prize Laureate Itzhak Perlman were announced today in Jerusalem.

Perlman announced last September that his prize money would be directed to support local organizations and projects that promote culture and assist Israelis with disabilities, under the management of Matan – United Way.

Of the NIS 3.2m., NIS 940,000 was invested in the special Perlman-Genesis Strings Project, a five-year Tel Aviv Conservatory program for outstanding young string musicians. In addition, NIS 188,000 was awarded to the House of Wheels (Beit Hagalgalim) organization and NIS 94,000 to the Chicago Community Center in Lod.

The bulk of the sum, NIS 2m., was awarded to 14 projects that will bring classical art to people with disabilities. Among the grantees are the Israel Museum, Beit Issie Shapiro, the Association of Community Centers, the Rimon Music School, the Nalaga’at Theater, the Orna Porat Theater and more.

Addressing the winners, 2016 Genesis Prize Laureate Itzhak Perlman said: “People with special needs are, first of all, human beings and citizens, and they deserve full and equal rights. If we insist on this, if we will give them an opportunity to expand their horizons, if we provide full accessibility, if we give them tools to create and to contribute to society, we will advance towards the vision of Israel we all want to see and bequeath to our children.”

Sana Britavsky, Deputy CEO of the Genesis Prize Foundation added: “The uniqueness of Yitzhak Perlman’s initiative is that the selected projects aim to raise as high as possible the standards of cultural content provided to the disabled in Israel. These are courageous initiatives that aspire to use high art as a tool to expose the full spiritual potential of those with disabilities – for their benefit and for the benefit of all of Israeli society. Encouraging excellence and repairing the world are integral parts of the vision of the Genesis Prize.”

The full list of “Breaking Barriers” grantee organizations in Israel includes: The Israel Museum, Beit Issie Shapiro, The Israel Association of Community Centers, Rimon Music School, Nalaga’at Theater, Jerusalem Conservatory, Jordan River Village, Milbat, Gesher Film Foundation, Vertigo Dance Company, ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran, the Central Library for the Blind, the Orna Porat Theater and Musethica.