Asylum Arts, a global network of Jewish artists, has launched with the aim of engaging more people with Jewish ideas, identity and community through the vibrant Jewish and Israeli cultural landscape.

Asylum will build capacity in contemporary Jewish culture on an international scale, bringing greater exposure to artists and cultural initiatives, providing opportunities for new projects and collaborations, and elevating the level of excellence and artistic activity. It will pursue its mission by hosting gatherings and trainings and providing small grants to foster connections between Jewish artists and arts organizations.

Asylum will be run by Rebecca Guber who served as the Founding Director of the Six Points Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Artists.

“In a world in which young Jews are seeking non-traditional opportunities for engaging in Jewish life, artists are creating meaningful, provocative Jewish experiences that provide a powerful way to connect to Jewish identity and expand the boundaries of Jewish life,” said Guber. “Empowering Jewish artists from around the globe to advance their professional careers and connections helps to broaden Jewish culture and the collective Jewish narrative in the world.”

Asylum will be supported in its pilot phase by the Schusterman Philanthropic Network, which has long invested in arts and culture as a way to renew the city of Jerusalem as a modern, open capital and to enable Israeli and Diaspora audiences to connect with Israel through its fertile cultural landscape. Key Schusterman investments in this area include the Jerusalem Season of Culture, Artis and the Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artists Program.