Aner Shapiro, the Jerusalem artist and musician who was killed while saving others during the October 7 massacre, will be honored at this year’s Israel Festival with an unusual event this week aimed not simply at celebrating creativity, but at putting it to work.
The “Creators of Impact” hackathon, to be held Wednesday as part of the festival’s two-day VERSE program, will bring together 10 artists working in different disciplines and 10 nonprofit organizations to develop new artistic projects designed to address social problems.
The event is being organized by the Israel Festival, the Aner Shapiro Association (also known as the Aner Foundation), and JDC-Israel.
Aner Shapiro's legacy of art and healing
VERSE, taking place August 11-12 at the Jerusalem Campus of the Arts, is conceived as a meeting point between artistic creation and social activism. The festival describes it as art driven by “radical compassion,” bringing together artists and activists who see creativity as a way to listen to different voices, connect communities, and encourage change.
That philosophy reflects Shapiro’s own life. A multitalented Jerusalem artist, composer, writer, and singer, he believed in the ability of music and art to unite and heal. On October 7, 2023, he was at the Nova music festival and took shelter with others in a roadside shelter near Re’im.
When Hamas terrorists repeatedly threw grenades inside, Shapiro threw them back out until he was killed at the age of 22. His actions saved the lives of others sheltering there. The association established in his name seeks to continue his belief in using art as a means of repairing the world.
Artists and nonprofits unite for 'Creators of Impact'
The invitation-only hackathon begins at 12:30 p.m. on August 12. Artists and representatives from the participating organizations will work together on social challenges. Their goal is to develop artwork ideas that can tell stories, stimulate discussion, and inspire action. A jury will select one proposed work to receive funding for its realization.
The organizations reflect an unusually broad range of issues in Israeli society. They include Otot, which supports at-risk youth; I-School, which provides online educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged areas and those affected by the war; ASSAF, which assists refugees and asylum seekers; and Blendar, which promotes Jewish-Arab connections through Arabic language and cultural education.
Among the others are a Sakhnin organization providing care for people with disabilities and special needs; Kanfey Dror, which combats bullying and social exclusion; Home Base, which works with homeless people through sports and community rehabilitation; Machshava Tova, which seeks to reduce social disparities through access to technology; the Council of Youth Movements in Israel; and Ruach Oz, which helps wounded IDF soldiers navigate recognition and rehabilitation.
The 10 artists were chosen in part because of their previous engagement with socially oriented art and their experience taking projects from conception through public presentation. They represent disciplines including visual art, poetry, choreography, theater, music, street art, performance, sound, and film.
Among them are multidisciplinary artist Shani Avivi, whose work explores memory, home, community, and personal archives; poet and choreographer Efrat Nachma; theater creator and actress Ofri Fuchs; participatory artist and designer Shmulik Twig; musician and rapper Yitzhak Vodaj; multidisciplinary performer Uri Duvdevani; performance artist Mohammed Abu Sarah; street artist Lior Ben Tov (Pesh); performance and sound artist Rotem Volk; and filmmaker Liav Kovalchuk, a Sam Spiegel Film School student whose work deals with identity, trauma, memory, and relationships.
VERSE brings art and social activism together
The VERSE program extends the same idea of art as a vehicle for connection throughout its two days, with music, film, exhibitions, participatory art, and discussions. Performers include Ninet Tayeb with Berry Sakharof, Ehud Banai, Pele Ozen with Hasan MC, and Orit Tashoma.
Also on August 12, a special edition of Jerusalem Story will be held, the storytelling project and podcast devoted to highlighting the city’s diverse communities. Six Jerusalemites will tell personal stories representing different backgrounds, neighborhoods, religions, and traditions in an evening hosted by Mishy Harman and featuring music by Rona Kenan.
Taken together, the events make VERSE less a conventional tribute to Shapiro than an attempt to continue his legacy and life. He was motivated by the wish both to help and inspire others through his creativity and his belief that art can do more than reflect the society around it, that it can also help change it.