Jerusalem cultural project unveiled

A new project in Jerusalem is aiming to make cultural programming more accessible to an array of audiences.

The Jerusalem Season of Culture, scheduled to launch in May, also will celebrate Jerusalem’s arts and artists in a way that reflects the city’s complexity and diversity.

The project was unveiled Monday in Jerusalem by Artistic Director Itay Mautner. It is supported by the Schusterman Foundation-Israel, the Jerusalem Foundation and other funders.

The Jerusalem Season of Culture was formed as an initiative of the Schusterman Foundation-Israel and its founder, philanthropist Lynn Schusterman. The cultural festival is modeled on other prominent international cultural festivals and seasons, and is designed to highlight Jerusalem’s flourishing arts scene.

“There is a wealth of cultural activity here, and our goal is to place it center-stage,” Mautner said in unveiling the project. “The primary objective of the season is to create a one-of-a-kind cultural dialogue that is generated by the city itself, its unique status and all that comes between.”

Scheduled events include performances by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company at The Israel Museum as part of the troupe’s final world tour; a series of evening cultural performances and celebrations at the Machane Yehuda Market; a three-week run of the Jewish Theater of Sweden’s production of Steve Reich’s “Different Trains” in an unused ancient site at the Tower of David Museum; and a performance at Sultan’s Pool by the celebrated soprano Renee Fleming with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Zubin Mehta.