What's New?

A new museumhas recently been established in the town of Chambésy on Lake Geneva. The museum is named after the Jewish artist Régine Heim, who specialized in sculpture and stained glass.

The Heim estate includes a mansion on Lake Geneva that houses, in addition to the museum, studios for visiting young artists from around the world. A special room has been set aside for the works of Tel-Hai Arts Institute students and graduates.

The collaboration between the Heim Foundation and Tel-Hai College was initiated by Prof. Susanne Merkel from Zurich, who contacted Arts Institute Director Sheri Arnon. "Suzanne has a warm and close relationship with Israel," says Arnon. "She told me about the museum and studios and asked for four portfolios of Arts Institute graduates in order to choose one for an arts residency. She was so impressed by the portfolios that she decided to invite all four!"

In September 2011 Hagai Oz and Efrat Knobler, two new graduates of the Institute, arrived in Chambésy. They were recently joined by Israel Pearlberg and Adi Kramer.

Sheri Arnon took part in a moving ceremony to mark the dedication of the Heim Museum. "The mayor, the German ambassador to the U.N., the Senegalese ambassador, the leaders of the Jewish community, and many more distinguished guests were present at the ceremony. I took the opportunity to tell about the Arts Institute, its unique setting and special atmosphere, and the wonderful partnership with the Heim Foundation, which is devoted to art, and now has a special commitment to the advancement of young Israeli artists."