1903
Professor Boris Schatz, one of the founders of the Royal Academy of Art in Sofia, Bulgaria, presents his proposal to establish an arts and crafts school in the Land of Israel to Theodore Herzl.
1905
The Seventh Zionist Congress in Basel passes a resolution to establish the "Bezalel" school of art.
1906
Professor Schatz establishes the Bezalel School of Arts & Crafts on Abyssinia Street in Jerusalem. The school's goals are: “to train the people of Jerusalem in crafts, develop original Jewish art and support Jewish artists, and to find visual expression for the much yearned-for national and spiritual independence that seeks to create a synthesis between European artistic traditions and the Jewish design traditions of the East and West, and to integrate it with the local culture of the Land of Israel.”
1908
The Bezalel School moves to its new buildings on what has since become Jerusalem’s Shmuel Hanagid Street. New departments are opened and the school expands its scope of activities.
1914
Bezalel is a huge success until World War I severs its links with the executive committee in Berlin and with its patrons and supporters in Europe. As of this year, the institution faces political, financial and management difficulties.
1917
Bezalel closes down before the British enter Jerusalem. The Turks decide to deport anyone they suspect as possessing the potential of serving as a 'fifth columnist'. Accordingly, they deport Schatz to Damascus (and subsequently to Tiberias and Safed). The Bezalel School faces a serious crisis until General Allenby enters Jerusalem in late 1917.
1918-1919
Schatz returns from exile and the school reopens.
1923
Albert Einstein visites Bezalel during a tour of various educaional institutions.
1929
The Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts closes down temporarily due to financial difficulties. Schatz travels abroad to raise funds for the school.
1932
Schatz dies in the USA while on tour with a roving exhibition of works by Bezalel’s artists.
1935
The Berlin-based executive committee reopens the New Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, now headed by renowned Berlin print artist Josef Budko. Many of the teachers hail from Germany and are strongly influenced by the Bauhaus movement. Bezalel emphasizes the study of typography, graphic art and practical arts as an expression of the needs and socio-economic developments of those years.
1940
Budko dies and Max Bronstein – otherwise known as artist Mordechai Ardon – is appointed in his place. Ardon is a disciple of the Bauhaus school who taught at Johannes Itten’s art school. World War II brings about serious difficulties, once again placing the school’s existence at risk.
1946
WIZO (Women’s International Zionist Organization) takes Bezalel under its wing and agrees to provide 50 percent of its budget.
1947
Following the end of World War II, the new Bezalel School finally obtains materials that were previously unavailable, such as natural linen. Many new students enroll in the school after the war, and for the first time, the number of students crosses the 100 mark, reaching 103. Among the new students are several survivors of the concentration camps in Europe.
1948
Following the establishment of the State of Israel and the end of the War of Independence, the task of integrating the school into the national cause is regarded as an important contribution to the fledgling state. The teaching of arts and crafts, as a subject in schools generally, is held in far higher regard. The new Bezalel School views itself as duty-bound to expand the teaching of fine arts in Israel and become Israel’s premier academy of arts.
1952
Ardon leaves Bezalel, and sculptor Zeev Ben-Zvi is appointed to succeed him. The government of Israel, aware of Bezalel’s historic importance and unique role, begins to provide funding. After a year, Ben-Zvi is succeeded by Yaakov Steinhardt, who is in turn followed by Yerahmiel Schechter, Yitzhak Aschheim and Felix Darnell.
1955
In early 1955, the “New Bezalel” academy is declared an “Academy of Art.” The student body grows to over 200 and the building is expanded.
1958
The Bezalel Academy of Art receives the Israel Prize on the occasion of Israel’s tenth Independence Day.
1965
Dan Hofner is appointed to head Bezalel and works intensively to change the school’s legal, financial and academic status. This is also the year when Bezalel’s departmental structure begins to evolve into its present form.
1966
The Department of Fine Arts is established.
1968
The Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs decides to turn Bezalel into a government company. Henceforth, the Minister of Education and Culture and the Finance Minister appoint the members of Bezalel’s Executive Committee.
1969
The Minister of Education and Culture appoints a committee headed by Professor Hanani of the Technion. The committee recommends that the Council for Higher Education “take the measures necessary in order to bring the Bezalel School up to the level of an institution of higher education”. The Council for Higher Education adopts the committee’s recommendations, appoints a personnel selection and curriculum committee headed by Professor Danziger, and the name of the school is changed to “The Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design”.
Early Seventies
the Animation track was established, headed by Itzhak Yoresh. This was the only program that provided students with the option and opportunity to create animation
1973
The Danziger Committee recommends that the Bezalel Academy be awarded the status of an institution of higher education and be advance the recognition thereof as an academic institution.
1975
A committee headed by Professor Ezriel Evyatar recommends that the graduates of the Fine Arts, Jewelry and Ceramics departments receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree, and that the graduates of the Graphic Design, Environmental and Industrial Design departments receive a Bachelor of Design (B. Des.) degree. The process of converting Bezalel into an academic institution is completed as it is finally transformed from a school of arts and crafts to an institution of higher education. The Council for Higher Education assumes responsibility for the institution’s budgeting.
1979
Professor Dan Hofner steps down as head of Bezalel and Ran Shehori is appointed to replace him.
The first stage of the consolidation of Bezalel’s academic bylaws, under the guidance of the supervisory committee appointed by the Council for Higher Education headed by Robert Wehrman, is completed.
1981
A request is submitted to have the curricular program of the Photography Department recognized as a program for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree.
The review committee headed by Professor Mansfeld submits a favorable recommendation.
1982
Bezalel enters an agreement with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Council for Higher Education regarding the construction of a building for Bezalel within the Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus. The detailed planning process begins.
1983
The Environmental and Industrial Design Department splits into two independent departments. Bezalel submits a request to allow the Environmental Design Department to award an academic degree in architecture. The Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs decides to transfer all of Bezalel’s activities, assets, rights and liabilities from the status of a government company to that of a nonprofit organization operating an institution of higher education. The Bezalel Non-profit Association is officially registered.
1984
A committee headed by Professor Aryeh Shahar of the Hebrew University begins to examine the possibility of endorsing Bezalel’s architectural curriculum.
1985
Renovations of the Weiler building on Mount Scopus begin.
1986
Three departments – Environmental Design, Jewelry Design and Photography –launch regular curricular programs at the Mount Scopus campus. The academic secretariat, theoretical studies, the Dean’s office and student union office move into the new building.
1987
Planning is completed and construction begins on the new Benjamin H. Swig wing of the Bezalel building.
1990
All of Bezalel’s departments and administrative offices move to the new campus on Mount Scopus.
The Council for Higher Education authorizes the opening of a first year of studies in the Photography department every year (previously, photography studies had been opened only every other year).
1991
The Council for Higher Education authorizes Bezalel to award an academic degree in architecture to those completing the five year curricular program launched in the 1992/1993 academic year.
Professor Ran Shehori steps down as head of the Academy and Dr. Ran Sapoznik is elected to take over.
1992
Over the next three years a new center of activity offering diploma studies and exhibitions, headed by Ziona Shimshi, opens at Bezalel's historic building on Bezalel Street.
1993
For the first time in Bezalel’s history, a Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch.) degree is awarded to those who completed the curricular program at the new Architecture department. The department relocates to Bezalel's historic building in central Jerusalem.
1994
The Academy's Senate decides to integrate the Video unit as a curricular course into the Photography department.
1995
Bezalel and the Hebrew University decide to launch a joint study program for a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree. The Raphael Frank gallery is inaugurated and the Michael Rosner faculty lounge opens for all Bezalel faculty members.
Construction of the library, slides library (V.I.B. – Visual Information Bank) and new wing of the Jack D. Weiler Architecture department is completed.
1996
Bezalel celebrates its 90th anniversary.
In January, the “Ancient Capital Cities” exhibition opens at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, the result of a cooperative effort of the Museum and Bezalel's Architecture department.
In March, a workshop and international conference are held at the Architecture department on the subject “Jerusalem – Utopia and Daily life”.
In May, the International Judaica Fair opens in cooperation with the Jewelry Design and Ceramic Design departments.
In June, an exhibition of Judaica artifacts opens as the outcome of a cooperative effort by the Rosenthal Company and the Ceramic Design department.
At David’s Citadel, a fashion show exhibiting swimwear and body accessories is the outcome of a cooperative effort by the Gottex Swimwear Company and Bezalel’s Jewelry Design department.
The Fine Arts department is named after Blanche and Romie Shapiro in the presence of the Board of Trustees.
An exhibition of the works of Professor Dan Hofner, Bezalel’s president between 1964 and 1979, opens at Bezalel’s historic building.
1997
For the first time, Bezalel launches a post graduate program in fine arts, titled "The Bezalel Young Artists Program". Classes are held at the Bezalel building in central Jerusalem, which has been restored as a center of creative artistic activity.
1998
As part of Israel’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Bezalel launches the “Continuity & Change” exhibition at the International Congress Center in Jerusalem. The exhibition presents 92 years of Judaica at Bezalel. Exhibition curator and designer is Muli Ben Sasson.
1999
Following a year in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, the “Continuity & Change” exhibition departs on a world tour. In July, the exhibition opens to the public at the Jewish Museum in Vienna, Austria.
The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation decides to support the development of the Visual Communications department. The department will henceforth be known as "The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation Department of Visual Communications".
2000
The Academy's Senate endorses the Master’s degree programs of the Architecture and Industrial Design departments, and the programs are submitted to the Council for Higher Education.
The first phase of the renovation of the Bezalel building in central Jerusalem and its adaptation to the needs of the Architecture department begins. With the opening of the 2000/2001 academic year, the Architecture department returns to the heart of Jerusalem’s urban fabric.
2001
Bezalel inaugurates a branch in Tel Aviv that includes an instructional gallery. The Master’s degree and post graduate programs of the Fine Arts and Photography departments take place at the Tel-Aviv branch.
2002
The Board of Trustees adopts the recommendations of the committee headed by Dr. Dan Ronen to revise Bezalel’s academic-administrative structure and formulates the new Association Bylaws.
The Council for Higher Education approves Bezalel’s request to launch a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) program in cooperation with the Hebrew University, as well as a Master of Industrial Design (M. Des) program
2003
For the first time, Bezalel launches two new master's degree programs: in fine arts (M.F.A.) and in industrial design (M. Des.).
The Bezalel Senate authorizes the launching of a fashion design program (slated for 2004) as part of the curriculum of the Jewelry Design department, as well as the establishment of the Cinematography, Video & New Media unit, as the first step toward a four-year diploma program scheduled to start in 2004.
The "Pirchey Bezalel" (= Bezalel Flowers) program is launched in cooperation with the ShaHaR department of the Ministry of Education, the Municipality of Jerusalem, and the "Perach" (personal tutoring) project. The program, launched in 2004, involves the integration of Jerusalem elementary and junior high school pupils in morning and afternoon classes at Bezalel.
Bezalel opens additional workshops as well as the Design Gallery on Abulafiya Street in Tel Aviv.
Dr. Ran Sapoznik steps down as president of Bezalel.
Professor Arnon Zuckerman is elected as president of Bezalel as of the 2004/2005 academic year.
2004
Aharon Dovrat is appointed as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Adv. Zvi Barak is appointed as Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Dr. Yaarah Bar-On is appointed as vice president in charge of academic affairs.
The Council for Higher Education endorses the master’s degree program in industrial design (M. Des). The first class of master’s degree students graduates.
An exhibition of works by graduates of the Master of Fine Arts program and post graduate program is held in Tel Aviv and receives wide acclaim.
For the first time, Bezalel launches a unique program of multi-departmental courses for students of the higher years.
Renovations of the historic building in central Jerusalem begin. The intention is to prepare the building to accommodate the Architecture department during the 2005/2006 academic year.
2005
The Council for Higher Education endorses the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) program, developed in cooperation with the Hebrew University. The first class of the Master of Fine Arts program graduates.
The multi-departmental course program was first implemented in the 2005 academic year.
The Executive Committee decides to relocate Bezalel's Mount Scopus campus to the city center. The Ministerial Committee on Jerusalem Affairs authorizes the allocation of a plot within the Russian Compound for the relocation of Bezalel back to central Jerusalem.
The History and Theory unit holds its first conference, "Theory and Practice – Parallel Lines".
2006: One Hundred Years since the Establishment of Bezalel
January 4, 2006 – Opening of the centennial events with the participation of the President, the Vice Prime Minister and Mayor of Jerusalem and opening of the exhibit on Professor Boris Schatz – founder of Bezalel, at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
January – an exhibit of 18 industrial designers from Bezalel opens at the Cooper- Hewitt American National Museum of Design, in New York, U.S.A.
Lag Ba'Omer 5766 (May 15, 2006) – the hundred year birthday of Bezalel's establishment. Renewal of the "Bezalel Notable Persons" tradition and the certificate awarding ceremony for the following "Bezalel Notable Persons" takes place at the President's residence in the year of the centennial: Mr. Morton Mandel, Ms. Marcella Brenner, Prof. Arthur Goldreich, Prof. Micha Ullman, Ms. Rivka Sacker, Mr. Moshe Gershoni. The Judaica exhibition "Continuity and Change" 100 years of Judaica at Bezalel, is hosted at the President's residence.
Launching of the book "Bezalel 100": Thousands of images describing the history of Bezalel 1906 – 2006, financed by Mifal Hapais and edited by Dr. Gidon Efrat and David Tartakover.
June 29th – the first conference of Bezalel graduates takes place at the Mount Scopus amphitheater with the participation of over 3,000 graduates.
July 18th – August 8th – "Bezalel 100/ Terminal 1" – Bezalel's end of year celebratory exhibition at Terminal 1 Ben Gurion Airport - spread out over 15,000 square meters on the terminal's two floors and showing thousands of works of over 400 graduates and students. Seventy five thousand visitors attended the exhibition which also included the exhibit of Bezalel's Master of Industrial Design (MFA) program, which hosted 52 graduates from 14 leading schools worldwide, the exhibit was called: "Goods to Declare".
August 2006 – July 2007 The international architects' competition for planning of the new Bezalel campus on the Russian Compound. In Phase 1, which ended in February 2007, 188 proposals were submitted, a third of these were from Israel and two thirds were from 33 other countries. Out of these proposals the judging committee, composed of Prof. and Architect Toshiko Mori, Prof. and Architect Moshe Safdie, Prof. Chanoch Gutfreund, Prof. Arnon Zuckerman, Prof. and Architect Zvi Efrat, and Mr. Yiftach Poran, chose five proposals which, together with four additional firms invited to participate in the competition (two from Israel and two from abroad), reached Phase 2 of the competition. In July 2007 the winning office was chosen: Architect Aysin Ipekci, Principal of STUDYO ARCHITECTs. September – Facing the Community: hundreds of high school pupils from 10 high schools in remote settlements were guests at Bezalel for ten days of multidisciplinary workshops, given by students in the framework of the Perach tutorial project at Bezalel, with the purpose of encouraging pupils to attend Bezalel in the future as students.
October 18th – conclusion of renovation and christening of the Bezalel History Building in the Center of Jerusalem, location of the Department of Architecture.
December 17th – 19th – Closing of the centennial events at the international conference: "Mirrors of the Spirit: New Views of Jerusalem", with participants from all realms of culture, from Israel and abroad. These included: the artists Tzadok Ben David and Micha Ulman, the designers Ron Arad and Per Molrop, the poet Salman Matzlacha, the author Aharon Appelfeld and the painter Meir Appelfeld, the researchers Nissim Calderon and Aviad Kleinberg.
2007
The Council for Higher Education endorses Bezalel's independent Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) program. The program was launched in the 2008 academic year.
Bezalel submits its Master of Theory and Policy of the Arts (M.A.) program to the Council for Higher Education.
The Council for Higher Education endorses Bezalel's Bachelor of Screen-Based Arts (B.F.A.) program. The program was launched in the 2008 academic year.
For the first time, Bezalel launches a bi-departmental program for third year students of two departments in addition to the multi-departmental program, as well as a program of basic courses for second year students, which enables each student to choose a basic course from a different department.
Notable Conferences
The international conference on "Ph. D. by Practice" was attended by the Minister of Education, Prof. Yuli Tamir. This lecturers' conference, which provided a stage for academic lecturers to present their work to their colleagues, took place for the first time in 2007 and will take place every year on Students' Day.
The third annual conference of the History and Theory department, "Right, Left and the Holy Spirit: on Art, Religion and Politics" (May 20, featuring Professor Tom Mitchell from the University of Chicago).
Other conferences, produced through the cooperative efforts of the History and Theory unit and the various departments of Bezalel, included "Israeli Animation Today" (with the Animation unit), "The Hebrew Letter" (with the Visual Communication department) and "The Israeli Object" (with the Ceramic Design department).
2008
Aharon Dovrat, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, passed away in New York after a long illness.
Bezalel submits its five-year plan for academic development (2009-2013) to the Council for Higher Education.
The "Bezalel Notable Person" citation is awarded to curator Jonah Fisher and Dr. David Polonsky, for their longstanding contribution to Bezalel.
Professor Nahum Tevet, head of the Master of Fine Arts program, receives the Minister of Education's lifetime achievement award.
David Polonsky, artistic director and chief animator of the film "Waltz with Bashir", and Yoni Goodman, director of animation for the film, receive the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film.
Bezalel's Screen-Based Arts department wins the "Best Animation Studies School" award at the 2008 Balkanima Festival and the film "Beton" by Ariel Belinco and Michael Faust wins first prize in the directing category at the same festival.
Rutu Modan wins the 2008 Eisner Prize for the best graphic novel of that year for her novel Exit Wounds.
Professor Zvi Goldstein wins the 2008 Ministry of Education's lifetime achievement award in the plastic art category.
Irit Abba wins the 2008 Andy prize in pottery.
Lena Dubinsky wins the 2008 Red Dot international prize in the concept design category.
Gil Marko wins second place at the 2008 Nathan Gottesdiener Foundation's Israeli Art Prize competition.
Notable Conferences
"Photography and the Political Scene" – a cooperative production by Bezalel's History & Theory and Photography departments.
"East of Here 4 – Visual Art & Culture in Tibet".
"Ger-Mania".
The annual conference of the History & Theory department.
"Think of the End before You Begin" – a cooperative production of Bezalel's History & Theory and Industrial Design departments.
The Jewelry and Fashion Design department held a conference and exhibition on interactive design and the Master of Industrial Design program held an international conference on design management, during which the Bezalel Design Management and Innovation Forum was established.
"In Second Gear 08", an exhibition by graduates of the Master of Industrial Design program, was presented as part of the ARTLV events in Tel-Aviv.
"Side A, Side B", an exhibition and seminar as homage to painter Moshe Kupferman, were held at the Salameh 60 gallery (curator and producer: Yona Fisher). These events were attended by dozens of researchers, artists and specialists from around the world.
The architectural design of the new Bezalel campus at the Russian Compound is currently in the schematic design stage.
Ilan Kaufthal was elected as the new chairman of the Friends of Bezalel Society, New York.
A new resource development unit was established at Bezalel, to handle both international affairs and public relations.
In July, the Master of Fine Arts program held an international workshop for master's degree schools from the USA and Europe.
Bezalel in the Community: 10 projects for the community were activated this year in the context of Bezalel's social activity, including "HaveRuth Bezalel-Hadassah", in cooperation with the Hadassah Mount Scopus hospital, and Bezalel in Eastern Jerusalem (Silwan).
Appointments: Adi Stern was elected as head of the Visual Communication department. Haim Parnas was elected as head of the Industrial Design department.
2009
The Council for Higher Education endorses Bezalel's Master of Urban Design program of the Architecture department. The program is launched in 2009.
Project "Good Start", initiated by Mrs. Aliza Olmert, the wife of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in cooperation with the Joint, is carried out at the Industrial Design and Architecture departments on the subject of planning and designing an infant care community center. The project is submitted in the presence of Prime Minister Olmert and his wife and prizes are awarded to outstanding students.
Two students of the Visual Communication and Screen-Based Arts departments, guided by Eyal Sorek in cooperation with the Computer Science Institute at the Ben-Gurion University, won first prize in the Microsoft Israel competition with their project "Out of the Cube", and subsequently represented Israel in the international competition, held in Cairo.
The Dead Sea Seminar produced by Bezalel's Industrial Design department was held at the Naveh-Midbar beach on the Dead Sea for the fourth year running.
The Texperience event, dealing with the experience of combining technology and interactivity, was held at the Bezalel gallery.
The History and Theory department produced four issues of their on-line periodical, Protocols.
Bezalel published three books this year: "Signs in Visual Communication" by Professor Avi Eisenstein, "Back Yards" edited by Professor Ezri Tarazi and Professor Yaarah Bar-On and "Protocollage" edited by Dr. Ben Baruch Blich, Dr. Gal Ventura, Dr. Naomi Hameiri-Dan and Dr. Dana Arieli-Horowitz. Additionally, the book "Bezalel 100" was translated into English.
Notable Exhibitions
"Haroshet" (= industry), an exhibition by 25 graduates of the Master of Fine Arts program, was presented this year at the "Station" compound in Tel-Aviv, in a 19th century Templar house that originally served as a floor tile factory. 7,000 visitors attended the exhibition.
Bezalel's 100th class presented their finishing projects at the End-of-Year Exhibition, in the context of which the 10x10 event took place for the second time. This event showcased the 10 selected projects.
The exhibition "Bezalel: from Jerusalem to Paris" was presented in September at the Orangerie du Senate museum, Luxemburg Gardens, Paris (curator: Yona Fisher).
Didi Lin was the curator of the exhibition "Vision – homage to Professor Arthur Goldreich".
The exhibition "Environment-Friendly Event at the Science Museum", presenting projects by students and graduates of Bezalel's Jewelry and Fashion Design department, was held at the science museum.
Notable Conferences
The Bezalel Design Management & Innovation Forum's conference.
The Master of Industrial Design program's conference.
"The Israeli Home" conference produced in cooperation with the Zionism Research Institute, Tel-Aviv University, and accompanied by the "+ Storeroom" exhibition and the "Talking About a Storeroom" event.
The conference "Between Personal and Political: Comics & Caricature from Here".
The History and Theory department's fifth annual conference.
"Artists Talk about the Decades Exhibitions": a symposium about the decades exhibitions presented in the context of Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations.
"Creative Situations: Fashion & Jewelry from Here", produced by the History and Theory department and the Jewelry and Fashion Design department.
"Evolution in Science and Art", in cooperation with the science museum.
"The Future is Behind Us: Futurism is 100 Years Old!"
"Scenery & Locus", by the Photography department.
"Old Kibbutz, New Kibbutz", by the Architecture department.
"East of Here 5 – Art in Japan in the 21st Century".
The schematic design phase of the architectural design of the new Bezalel campus at the Russian Compound has been completed.
2010
The Council for Higher Education issues the quality assessment report regarding Bezalel's Architecture department, prepared by an international committee of specialists. The report compliments Bezalel for its accomplishments and points to Bezalel's Architecture department's status as one of the country's leading departments for its intellectual, social and cultural approach.
Bezalel establishes a school for higher degrees, offering master's degree programs in fine arts, industrial design and urban design.
For the first time, Bezalel launches a joint bachelor's degree curricular program with the Computer Science School at the Hebrew University. The program was endorsed by the University's authorities and submitted for approval to the Council for Higher Education as part of the five-year plans of both institutions.
A new center, "Yaffo 23" opens at the main post office building in central Jerusalem. The center includes a gallery, a modern, experimental activity center for creative artists and Bezalel's external studies unit.
The Polonsky modeling center for the computerized development of models using 3D printers is inaugurated. The center will serve students, designers and local industries.
The Aharon Dovrat Prize, in honor of the late chairman of Bezalel's Board of Trustees, is awarded to an outstanding student for the first time, in the presence of the Board of Trustees.
A mass audience international conference, "Seeing the Voices" is held in Jerusalem in cooperation with the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, with support provided by the Israel Academy of Sciences and the Advanced Studies Institute.
The History and Theory department publishes a second issue of "Protocollage", a collection of articles.
Bezalel is accepted as a member of AICAD USA, the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, a consortium of leading art schools in the USA and Canada.
Appointments: Professor Dudu Mezach is elected as head of the Screen-Based Arts department. Architect Yuval Yasky is elected as head of the Architecture department. Dr. Raphael Zagury-Orly is elected as head of the Master of Fine Arts program.
Notable Exhibitions
The roving exhibition presented in Paris continued to Berlin and opened at the UDK university of art, in the presence of the presidents of both institutions and the Israeli ambassador to Germany (curator: Muli Ben-Sasson).
"The Box", an inter-generation exhibition by the Fine Arts department, is held at the Mani house in Tel-Aviv, sponsored by Bank Leumi.
"How to Illustrate Love in Four Languages", an international exhibition of children's book illustrations by the Visual Communication department with participating students from leading academies in South Korea, Germany and Bulgaria.
Bezalel's "Salameh 60" gallery presented "MFA/USA", an international exhibition by the Master of Fine Arts program in cooperation with four leading similar programs in the USA: Yale, Columbia, USC and the Chicago Art Institute.
Pursuant to the "Dead Sea" seminar – which had become an annual tradition of the Industrial Design department – the Israel Museum presented "Sitting Low – Seeing Far", an exhibition of stools made from local materials.
2011
Academic Development
The Council for Higher Education approved the launching of the new humanities program in fine arts policy and theory (M.A. with thesis). Professor Menachem Brinker will head the program, which is intended for Bachelor of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture graduates (and university graduates in other fields, subject to complementary studies), and is the first program of its kind in Israel. The program is of the utmost importance to advancing research activity at Bezalel. This breakthrough would enable the development of a program for a doctoral degree in the future.
The Council for Higher Education endorsed Bezalel's Master of Urban Design program for qualification. During the coming year, the review committee of the Council for Higher Education will review the opening of this program not only to architects and landscape architects, but also to geography, anthropology and sociology graduates.
Bezalel, in cooperation with the Hebrew University, offers a program for students accepted to the Computer Science program at the University and to one of the departments of Bezalel. Some twenty students now study for a bachelor's degree in computer science and a bachelor's degree at Bezalel, and will become the spearhead in the development of innovative projects in interactive design and new media.
The Council for Higher Education approved the qualification of Bezalel's Master of Fine Arts program.
A proposal for a Master of Visual Communication program is submitted this year.
An interdisciplinary laboratory of the Visual Communication department and the Master of Industrial Design program developed interactive visual solutions for the General Motors Corporation in the context of an agreement for the development of an interface for car drivers (Window of Opportunity).
The National Insurance provided Bezalel with one million shekels for the establishment of a unique support center in the field of fine arts for persons with learning disorders. Bezalel will be the leader of this new field within the national higher education system.
The Council for Higher Education approved the transfer of the Bezalel campus to the Russian Compound in central Jerusalem.
Eli Petel was elected as head of the Fine Arts department. He will begin his tenure in 2012.