testimonials
“The debates that are raging in Canada about Israel and Palestine are happening in Israel too. That's obvious to me now, but I didn't really understand that before being there.
Our conversations with IDF reservists, 10/7 survivors, curators, gallerists, artists and curious people we met throughout the trip were nuanced and complicated. As a result of this experience I feel compelled to continue these difficult conversations with my colleagues, friends and family in Canada.”
“I’m a lifelong atheist with a strong affinity for Jewish culture; so many of the artists that I have been most influenced by come from a Jewish background. I love the way the culture nurtures the value of a questioning outlook and in this way accepts complexity and celebrates intellectualism, irony and humour.
The veneration of these attributes has been in alarming decline in recent years, and the Reframe Arts Fellowship provided the opportunity to experience history, architecture, culture, horror, joy and art in such abundance and through interaction with so many different people that we met there that I’m still reeling from it a week later. I am enormously grateful to have been a participant, and wish it were magically possible for everyone to do so.”
“I came home from this trip feeling so inspired and invigorated. When I got home I continued by deep dive into Israel's history and current state. I want to learn more and continue my understanding. In addition, the relationships formed with the people on the trip were amazing! Everyone became so close, it was such an emotional goodbye.”
“Before I went, I didn't know how to speak about Israel. Now, I do. It is so scary for people to talk about Israel right now, and I'm no longer afraid to broach the subject.”
“Going into this trip, I had some uncertainty. As a Jewish person, it wasn’t the same fear of pushback some non-Jewish artists might feel, but rather a question of what kind of connection and clarity I would come away with. I can confidently say it was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I learned deeply, witnessed complexity up close, and returned with greater confidence and responsibility in speaking about the challenges Israelis and Jews face within the arts. I'm proud to be part of the Reframe community, and I’m walking away even more proud to be Jewish — a relationship that has felt complicated at times over the past few years, but feels more grounded now.”
“Reframe Arts Fellowship provided the opportunity to experience history, architecture, culture, horror, joy and art in such abundance and through interaction.”
“As a Canadian Jewish artist with deep ties to Israel and her people, participating in the Reframe Arts Fellowship has been one of the biggest blessings I could ever receive.
There has been a steady decline into isolation, loneliness, and rejection over the last few years, and I have been longing for something hopeful. This opportunity to travel with people I respect and admire, to share learning and experiences both challenging and beautiful, and to immerse myself into the successes and struggles of both the arts community and the people of Israel, will nourish and stay with me always, and inspire me in my way forward.
I am forever grateful to Reframe for this incredible, unique, and immeasurably meaningful opportunity, and would encourage anyone - Jewish, non-Jewish, those who have travelled to Israel before and otherwise - to consider applying for an upcoming cohort.”
“The amount of hope I’m getting from this project is insane. Genuinely have been so unsure about my place entering the arts industry as a Jewish person right now, and this is giving me so much faith that it can work out.”
“I’m deeply grateful to have been part of this trip. Before arriving, my understanding of Israel was mostly abstract; being there made its complexity and humanity very real. Hearing different perspectives and seeing daily life up close gave me a deeper appreciation for the culture, history, and current realities. Experiences like this can’t be learned from a distance — they have to be lived. This trip only scratched the surface, but it changed how I understand the place and the people. Thank you for making that possible.”
“This trip changed my life. On the inside, I am spiritually fulfilled beyond measure. On the outside, I am bonded to the Canadian members of the Jewish community that joined me on the trip. I am also imprinted with a special memory of Israel and the Jewish experience, that no headline, TikTok or soundbite can overpower.”
“This was the most amazing, scary, whirlwind, cry-face and inspiring trip I’ve ever been on. I felt sleepy before visiting Israel, complacent. I was watching events unfold in a part of the world I had never been to from a safe and righteous distance. As a result of this experience, I feel more accountable and connected to what is happening in Israel and how it impacts my Jewish friends and colleagues.”
“The mark of a mature artist is when the interpretation of their work can sustain multiple and even contradictory readings at the same time. The situation in Israel requires this kind of approach and away from the binary thinking taking over the world.
I am so excited by having been there at this time. I'm excited to share my excitement and see where that goes. Before I went, I didn't know how to speak about Israel. Now, I do. It is so scary for people to talk about Israel right now, and I'm no longer afraid to broach the subject.”