Schusterman Center for Israel Studies

In Motion: Israeli and Palestinian Arts and Culture Conference

Postponed due to coronavirus precautions

In response to public health concerns over the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), Brandeis University is implementing a policy requiring the cancellation or postponement of large gatherings. Thus, with deep regret, we announce that we will not be able to present the In Motion: Palestinian Arts and Culture conference. We sincerely hope to be able to reschedule during the 2020-21 academic year. Thank you for understanding. 

Sunday, April 26 - Monday, April 27, 2020
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA

Contemporary art and culture from Israel are highly regarded across the globe. Artists, musicians, writers, dancers and creators of film and television – from Israel and the Israeli Diaspora have been recognized as innovators in their respective fields.

Marked by diversity, pluralism, as well as cutting edge formal and artistic innovations – Israel’s multifaceted culture reflects, critiques and reimagines how we might understand the country’s past, present and future.

A two-day conference, scheduled to coincide with the Festival of the Arts, will take place on April 26-27, 2020, and present a variety of artistic modes of expression, including ‘experiential’ sessions, immersive presentations and academic panels and talks. Read about the festival and our conference on pages 20-21 of the Winter/Spring 2020 issue of Brandeis University's State of the Arts Magazine.

The conference open on Sunday April 26, with a plenary session highlighting the work of three brilliant artists: Raida Adon a Palestinian video artist and actress; Tamar Borer, a disabled choreographer and dancer; and Zoya Cherkassky-Nnadi, a painter who immigrated to Israel from Ukraine and currently divides her time between Tel Aviv and Nigeria, her husband’s native land. While each artist's work is entirely distinctive, when viewed collectively, certain themes emerge: questions of gender, identity, belonging, inclusion and exclusion. All three artists will present their work and discuss it with Brandeis faculty during this session (4:30-6:15).

This evening is presented as part of the Ilan Troen Annual Lecture on Contemporary Israel Affairs with the generous support of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.

The conference will continue on Monday, April 27, with academic discussions and interactive workshops. The artists will also engage with the community before as well as during the conference, in class visits, master classes, and informal studio visits with student-artists.

• View the schedule
• Meet the speakers

We gratefully acknowledge generous support from:
The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
The Bella and Max Shulman Family Fund

with assistance from our Brandeis University partners:

• Jolie Schwab '78
  The Department of Fine Arts
• The Department of Theater Arts
• The Division of Creative Arts
• Film, Television and Interactive Media Program
• Hadassah-Brandeis Institute
• The Hebrew Program
• The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy
• Mandel Center for the Humanities
• School of Arts and Sciences Co-Curricular Fund
• The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program

Conference Academic Committee

• Gannit Ankori, Professor of Art History and Theory and Chair in Israeli Art in the Departments of Fine Arts and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Alexander Kaye, Karl, Harry, and Helen Stoll Assistant Professor of Israel Studies, Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
• Ilana Szobel, Associate Professor on the Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Chair in Hebrew Literature, Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
• Shayna Weiss, Associate Director, Schusterman Center for Israel Studies

All images are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. Copyright of the artists.