Latest volume of Jewish Funders Network’s “Greenbook” series makes the case for art as an engine for social change, maps the existing landscape, and highlights opportunities for philanthropic action

TEL AVIV—Why invest in art, and why now? A new Greenbook from Jewish Funders Network says the arts represent a powerful opportunity to foster change in Israeli society.

JFN announced the release of a new guide to funding the arts in Israel to drive social change at the JFN 2018 International Conference in Tel Aviv on 15 March. Greenbook, Volume 5 makes the case for the importance of art in Israeli society and its advantages as a strategic tool for social change; maps the existing landscape, discussing the major players and trends currently active in the field; and highlights opportunities for philanthropic action.

“Art inspires everyone with emotions, ideas, and stories,” said Angelica Berrie, President of the Russel Berrie Foundation and co-chair of Jewish Funders Network, speaking at the announcement on 15 March. “But artistic ventures can also inspire philanthropists with the way they operate, the people they reach, and the people to whom they give a platform who might not have had one before.”

“The arts can be incredibly important to Israeli society,” added Rivka Saker of the Zucker Foundation, chair of Sotheby’s Israel and founder of the arts NGO Artis. “Art can foster tolerance, enrich education, reinforce civil society, develop culture, and achieve change across multiple fields.” Greenbooks are topical, user-friendly research reports for funders, published by Jewish Funders Network. Each Greenbook volume highlights a challenge facing the Jewish community, maps out the background and current status, and details a wide range of funding approaches to solving the problem.

Greenbook, Volume 5: Arts as a Driver for Social Change in Israel was written with generous support from five partners:

Angelica Berrie, Russell Berrie Foundation
Wendy Fisher, Kirsh Family Foundation
Irith Rappaport, Bruce and Ruth Rappaport Foundation
Rivka Saker, Zucker Foundation
Lynn Schusterman, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

The guide was researched and written by Diti Ronen.

Press Contact:

Seth Chalmer
Communications Manager, Jewish Funders Network
[email protected]