Special budget allotted for cultural events in south
Culture Ministry to fund cultural performances in shelters, fortified compounds near Gaza. Artists to begin arriving in region Wednesday, in bid to help alleviate residents' distress
The Science, Culture and Sport Ministry has decided to transfer some $265,000 to the Omanut Laam Foundation that will go towards cultural activities at shelters and fortified compounds in Sderot and the Gaza vicinity communities.
Omanut Laam (Art for the People) seeks to distribute Israeli art and culture to the periphery and to make it accessible to all the citizens of the State.
As of Wednesday, artists will begin visiting the area and perform to residents.
"The ministry sees it as its duty to alleviate in any way possible the hardships faced by the inhabitants who live under the threat of rocket fire," said the ministry's director-general, Gal Dai. "I sincerely hope that the ministry's activities could somewhat better the terrible experience they have been forced to endure."
The ministry is also making efforts to move soccer and basketball matches scheduled to take place in the region to a safer location.
Amir Asbi, Omanut Laam's director-general, told Ynet, "We set up emergency headquarters and are calling on artists to join us in this effort." He said that the foundation received numerous invitations from Sderot and communities in the Eshkol Regional Council.
"We are glad that the Culture Ministry has enabled us to carry out this mission. One of Omanut Laam's main objectives is to help and support the periphery, all the more so in days of war and raging terror.
"We are grateful to the artists who responded to our appeal in such short notice and are helping us to realize our goal," he added.
