The Foundation believes art and culture are a pillar and force for strengthening society and community, and that art and artists have the power and role to lead positive change. The Foundation invests in developing and strengthening cultural institutions, nurturing and supporting artists, promoting excellence, and creating art that reflects the diversity of identities in the community - enabling healing and growth while making art accessible to the wider public.
Arts & Culture
Projects, Programs & Activities
Artport
Artport Center for Contemporary Art was founded in 2011 by Jason Arison. Rooted in the belief that artists and art play a transformative role in society, Artport aspires to be a home for artists at meaningful stages of their professional development and to create a supportive environment for the creation of new art.
Artport is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing and nurturing contemporary art in Israel. At its core is a residency program for Israeli and international artists, alongside a gallery with a rich program - including an annual artists' book fair, exhibitions, artist talks, professional workshops, reading groups, screenings, and more.
The Art Library in Memory of Meir Arison, Tel Aviv Museum of Art
The Art Library at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art covers all fields of art - including plastic arts, photography, architecture, and design - as well as related disciplines such as art education and more.
The library's collection includes tens of thousands of books, printed and electronic journals, a rich multimedia catalog, digital databases, and catalogs from museums and galleries in Israel and worldwide, shared through a global catalog exchange program.
The Israeli Art Documentation Center, based at the library, brings together a wide range of publications on artistic activity in Israel - reflecting current research and contemporary practice in Israel and worldwide.
The first grant was donated by Ted Arison's father, Meir Arison, in 1932 to his friend Meir Dizengoff - the first Mayor of Tel Aviv and founder of the museum. Foundation Chairman Jason Arison continues the family legacy, leading the ongoing relationship with the museum through grants, regular support, and the integration of the library as a significant cornerstone of the museum's work.
The Lin and Ted Arison Israel Conservatory of Music, Tel Aviv
The Israel Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv is one of Israel's oldest and most respected institutions for music education, founded in 1945.
The Conservatory offers a comprehensive music education program for ages 3-18, nurturing each student at their own pace. The program includes instrument lessons, music theory, ensemble participation, opportunities to perform in concerts, and free admission to concerts by leading Israeli and international musicians through the Chamber Music Center.
The Arison Family has supported the Conservatory across generations - with donations in 1981, 1993, and in 2012 for its new building.
Zumu
Zumu is a community-based mobile museum that travels across Israel, presenting rotating exhibitions created and curated together with local communities. Zumu - a combination of the Hebrew words for 'move' and 'museum' - is rooted in the belief that art is a key to building a more open and inclusive community and bridging all sectors of Israeli society.
Zumu set out on a groundbreaking journey to dissolve geographical distances, bridge cultural gaps, overcome physical barriers, break down cultural obstacles, and eliminate the familiar divides between artist and audience, art and community, and creation and reality.
Bezalel
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, has moved to its new home at the heart of the city center - a magnificent, state-of-the-art campus.
The campus is located in the Russian Compound, next to the Jerusalem Municipality and Safra Square, on a hill overlooking the Old City.
The Foundation donated toward the Arison Center for Media and Technology, equipped with cutting-edge technology that enables students and faculty to lead in the world of art and design. The Center provides services in graphics, photography, video, modeling, 3D, and animation, and includes computer labs and workstations for learning a wide range of design software - empowering students to maximize their creative potential.
Yitzhak Rabin Center, Tel Aviv
The Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv is an educational and historical institution founded in 1997 to preserve the legacy of the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated two years prior. Modeled on the Presidential Libraries of former United States presidents, the Center promotes tolerance and democratic dialogue in Israeli society.
The Ted Arison Family Foundation donated toward the building of the Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv, dedicated to his memory and legacy.
Dalia Rabin, Chair: "The Center's primary goal - creating a better, more whole society - perfectly aligned with the vision of Shari Arison and the Arison Foundation."
The America-Israel Cultural Foundation
The America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF) is a one-of-a-kind foundation for artistic excellence in Israel. It supports outstanding art students from across the country in music, dance, visual arts, film, theater, and architecture - helping them realize their talents and study with leading teachers at top institutions in Israel and worldwide. Over its 70 years of operation, the AICF played a significant role in raising funds and contributing to the building of many of Israel's cultural institutions - including Habima Theatre, the Charles Bronfman Auditorium (Heichal HaTarbut), the Rubin Academy of Music, the Schreiber House in Be'er Sheva, Sokolov House, and many more. The Foundation has also awarded scholarships to over 10,000 artists.
The Ted Arison Family Foundation stepped in to rescue the AICF, which faced closure in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. The Foundation also maintained long-term support for the Sharett Scholarship Program - the AICF's flagship initiative - dedicated to identifying and nurturing top-tier talent across the arts.
