Jerusalem Arts Center Faces Eviction for Ultra-Orthodox Gallery

Jerusalem's Tzurim Street Performance Arts Center is slated for eviction by the Jerusalem Municipality, which plans to transfer the building to the "Toar" association, operators of the "Miklat" gallery catering to the ultra-Orthodox public. Artists currently using the center, which provides affordable studio space and hosts dance and movement classes for a diverse, liberal audience, are vehemently opposing the move. They argue the center is vital for young artists and contributes to Jerusalem's cultural landscape.

City officials claim the center is underutilized, justifying its closure. However, artists like dancer Stav Borohani and painter Aharon Manor describe the center as a unique and essential resource in Jerusalem, lamenting the potential loss of affordable creative space. They express a growing concern that the municipality is prioritizing the ultra-Orthodox sector, leading to the displacement of liberal cultural institutions.

Adding to the controversy, the Jerusalem Municipality's allocation committee had previously assigned the "Miklat" gallery's former shelter space to an ultra-Orthodox synagogue, contingent on finding an alternative location for the gallery. While some reports suggest the shelter was only used for High Holiday prayers and that the Tzurim Street building would only be partially transferred, artists have sent letters of protest.

Yossi Havilio, Deputy Mayor and head of the Culture portfolio, has formally requested Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion to halt the eviction. Havilio stated that closing the center would accelerate the departure of young people from the city and called the move "a slap in the face to the entire state-minded public," asserting it prioritizes another ultra-Orthodox synagogue over a liberal cultural institution.

Conversely, a veteran figure in Jerusalem's cultural scene defended the "Miklat" gallery, calling it a recognized and valued institution. This individual suggested that supporting the gallery is crucial for the city's future and questioned Havilio's opposition, implying it was politically motivated. The Jerusalem Municipality issued a statement asserting its long-standing support for the "Miklat" gallery and explaining that the move to the Tzurim Street complex aims to increase activity and expose more residents to Jerusalem art, promising that any changes would enhance, not replace, the city's cultural offerings.