In this conversation we will talk about the role art and culture play in times of war. Often seen as extracurricular, art and culture can bring back the humanity that is too often lost in times of war. October 7th and the following war changed the status quo in Jerusalem and everyone's reality. The story of Feelbeit is about facing the pain together, working with anger and hopelesness and hereby finding ways to reconnect to our humanity and socciety as a whole.
About Feelbeit:
Feelbeit is a collective of Israelis and Palestinians who create art and music to bridge divides in Jerusalem. Their award-winning productions combine a broad range of artistic disciplines, from music, theater and film to digital art, podcasts and installation. Everything they present is rooted in love for the diverse people of this place. They are driven by their conviction that when all else breaks down, art and music must break through.
About the speakers:
Emmanuel Witzhum: Emmanuel Witzhum combines work as composer, artistic director and creator of artistic digital experiences. He currently serves as Head of Creative Development for the FeelBeit culture house and as the curator of the creative resident program at the ZEISS Innovation hub at KIT.
He has created artistic collaborations with partners such as Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt; IRCAM; Google; The Guggenheim; The Alvin Ailey Dance Company; Enjoy Jazz Festival; The Future en Seine Festival; The Matadero; The Jewish Culture Festival, Krakow, The Jewish Museum, Berlin; The Pacific North Western Ballet; The ZKM and ZEISS amongst others.
He has performed as violist with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in NYC, The Berlin Staatskapelle, Ensemble Intercontemporain amongst others. He has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon under Pierre Boulez with Ensemble Intercontemporain.
He is a consultant and lecturer on such topics as - transformation processes in the arts and strategic business development in the arts in the 21st century.
Zuhdi Najeeb: Zuhdi Najeeb is a Palestinian Jerusalemite who leads the communications and social media team at FeelBeit, focusing on making cultural initiatives accessible to the Palestinian and Arabic-speaking community. With five years of experience in this field, he has developed unique skills in integrating multiple narratives into his work, alongside cultivating a culturally sensitive language that effectively engages a diverse audience of artists and communities. Zuhdi holds a BA in Marketing from the Arab American University and has participated in several leadership programs and workshops addressing issues relevant to East Jerusalem society.
The event is part of the Online Event Series "Middle East: Building Hope in Times of War".