Creatives launch venture to promote Jewish arts

In May, British band Oi Va Voi faced had two shows promoting their latest album at venues in Bristol and Brighton cancelled due to pressure from pro-Palestine activists.

However, Falk and Black have stated the initiative is a positive celebration of Jewish arts. Their recent survey, sent to Jewish artists to gauge the areas in which support is most needed, revealed that issues around antisemitism came significantly lower among their concerns than mentoring and professional networking. More than half cited the latter in comparison to the 29 percent who asked for support amid antisemitism.

At the event, Black invited attendees, who included creatives, organisations and funders, to share their experiences to “map the landscape of Jewish creativity across the UK”.

Black said, “This is about shaping our future together and creating a strategy for the UK Jewish Arts.”

Tania Black, chair of the UK Jewish Arts Foundation[Missing Credit]

A Jewish Arts Fund – described as a “new model of philanthropy and partnership” to back emerging artists, collectives and bold new ideas – was also announced.

Black said it was not to duplicate what already existed but instead to connect and strengthen it and “to seed a genuine renaissance of Jewish creativity”.

Finally, a Jewish arts biennale was discussed as a “national celebration” across artistic disciplines and as a way for the country to put “Jewish creativity centre stage and link UK Jewish artists to the global conversation”.

It will aim to “showcase the brilliance, range, and audacity of Jewish art, from established names to new voices”. 

The event championed Jewish artistic endeavours such as The Wanderers at Marylebone Theatre, and the upcoming launch of Steve Furst’s pub theatre venue in Hampstead, The Circle and Star.

The organisers praised the success of The Cockney Yiddish Podcast, crowned winner of Best Culture Podcast 2025, and Arts Council Acquisition Prize-winning visual artist Tchiprout.

They also endorsed those nurturing emerging talent, such as the Jewish Literary Foundation’s new award for playwrights, the Shoresh Foundation’s support for Jewish theatre, and Jewish Renaissance Young Artists Scheme, whose winner Bruno Grad opens his first major exhibition next year.

Black said: “Together, these three strands form our blueprint: to build an ecosystem where Jewish art is not an afterthought, but a recognised force.

“If even a fraction of Jewish philanthropic energy were directed towards this creative renaissance, just imagine the studios that would open, the collaborations that would spark, the artists who could focus fully on their work.”

She added the importance of ensuring Jewish creativity was not a niche genre but one that played a bigger role in British culture.

“If Jewish art once again became central to Britain’s cultural conversation – not something niche or nostalgic, but something that challenges, provokes, and delights – imagine what that would do for how Jewish stories are told and heard.”

ukjewishartsfoundation.co.uk