Art Knows No Borders: An Inter-disciplinary Art Festival

Melton Fellow Marjorie Garces in taking her PUNCH! project to Israel in collaboration with Alex Stein, a US visual artist focusing on environmental sustainability and culture, with a major new event called "Art Knows No Borders". The event aims to be an inter-disciplinary arts/education platform consisting of collaborative workshops, talks and an exhibition by regional artists. Focusing on cultural diplomacy, environmental issues, and peace-building, the event will bring together artists of multiple fields together in order to engage and support communities in the lower Negev, Israel.

PUNCH! is an initiative that aims to promote the practice of art through events that link together artists and their communities, as well as bringing attention to the local issues facing those communities. Past events have included work with educational organizations and indigenous groups in Temuco, Chile and arts education for underprivileged children in New Delhi, India.

Apart from the Melton Foundation, the other sponsors/partners for the event include the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies, Kibbutz Ketura and Kibbutz Lotan. The event is planned to take place in Kibbutz Ketura Mercaz on 29-30 May 2014. May successfully raised the funds for the event through the crowd-funding website Kickstarter.