Arts | ICP

Visual arts are at the heart of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s cultural identity and a central pillar of the Israel Culture Project (ICP). Each year, the JCC presents three major exhibitions in the Laurie M. Tisch Gallery, consistently showcasing Israeli artists—both emerging and established, from Israel and the United States, alongside collaborations with Israeli curators and cultural institutions. Through exhibitions, artist talks, installations, public programs, and community activations, the JCC creates meaningful opportunities for Israeli artists to engage diverse New York audiences while exploring contemporary questions of identity, memory, place, food, ritual, and belonging.

Beyond the gallery, Israeli artists are deeply integrated throughout the life of the institution through initiatives such as the Artist Sukkah Project, Tikkun Leil Shavuot installations and participatory art experiences, Israel National Day programming, lobby activations, community workshops, and interdisciplinary collaborations across the building.

The JCC is also proud to partner with Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design on an ongoing residency program for students from the Ceramics and Glass Department. Each year, a selected Bezalel artist spends a month in residence at the JCC, creating new work, engaging with the community through lectures and workshops, and participating in the artistic life of New York City. The residency culminates in a public presentation and mini exhibition of the artist’s work, further strengthening the cultural bridge between Israeli artists and American audiences.

Literature and storytelling are a vital part of the cultural life of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and a major focus of the Israel Culture Project (ICP). Throughout the year, the JCC presents dozens of author conversations, readings, performances, and literary events across the building, from children’s story hours and intimate lobby readings to major conversations in the auditorium featuring Pulitzer Prize, Booker Prize, and internationally acclaimed writers. The JCC is proud to regularly host Israeli authors, poets, essayists, musicians, and chefs whose books and stories bring contemporary Israeli culture to New York audiences in thoughtful, dynamic, and accessible ways.

Performing arts are a vibrant and essential part of the cultural life of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and the Israel Culture Project (ICP). Throughout the year, the JCC presents a wide range of concerts, performances, and live experiences for audiences of all ages, from children’s circus performances and family theater to intimate jazz evenings, contemporary dance, stand-up comedy, large-scale concerts, and classical music series on the JCC rooftop overlooking New York City. Music and live performance are central to the JCC’s vision of culture as a communal gathering place: joyful, emotional, thought-provoking, and deeply human.

Israeli musicians, singers, dancers, actors, comedians, and interdisciplinary performers are a major part of this artistic landscape. Through concerts, festivals, holiday programming, community celebrations, memorial events, and multidisciplinary collaborations, ICP creates opportunities for Israeli performing artists to share their voices and creativity with New York audiences in meaningful and memorable ways.