In Jerusalem, there’s no need to wait for the next decade to glimpse what will move Israel tomorrow. The city’s Premiere Festival offers a first look at the future of Israeli art – showcasing debut works by students and graduates in music, design, performance, cinema and visual arts from leading institutions throughout the capital
Dozens of Performances Across Two Days of Art
Organized by the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Foundation, the festival spans multiple locations and is largely open to the public, with most events free of charge. Taking place in mid-July, it brings together well-known artists and promising new voices. Highlights include a unique performance by Shuli Rand, combining music and personal stories from his days at Nissan Nativ; a pre-premiere screening of Tom Shoval’s new film starring Dana Ivgy; a panel on groundbreaking women led by Naomi Levov; exhibitions from Bezalel’s ultra-Orthodox graduates; tech-emotional installations; and experimental performances from Musrara School of Art and Society
(Luxury Towers Rise Where Israel’s Voice Once Stood)
A City-Wide Creative Campus
Main events are held at the Jerusalem Arts Campus on 5 Menorah Street, along with additional venues across the city. With over 4,000 art students annually, Jerusalem hosts the highest concentration of young artists in Israel. Institutions like Bezalel, Ma’aleh, Musrara, and Nissan Nativ are all within walking distance – forming a dense cultural ecosystem unlike anywhere else in the country
Not Just an Event – A Cultural Movement
The Premiere Festival aims to become a lasting tradition, positioning Jerusalem as a dynamic, rooted and diverse hub of Israeli creativity. It seeks not only to present debut works, but to nurture a long-term community of artists, curators and educators – seeing the city not just as a place of study, but as a permanent creative home
