SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Israeli actress Dana Ivgy will serve as a visiting lecturer at San Diego State University this spring.
Ivgy, a multiple Israeli film award winner, will be in San Diego from Jan. 15 to May 5th. Ivgy is lecturing at San Diego State University through the Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artists Program, which is bringing 14 Israeli artists for residencies at top universities across the United States during the 2016-2017 academic year.
Ivgy is best known for her acting in critically acclaimed Israeli films, most recently “Zero Motivation” and “Next To Her”, released in 2014. She has been nominated for Best Actress six times, winning two for her performances in “Or” (2003) and “Zero Motivation” (2014). In addition to her film performance, she has worked as the artistic director for her international performances with the Israeli stage comedy troupe, Tziporela.
The Visiting Israeli Artists program, an initiative of the Israel Institute, a D.C.-based academic institute that aims to enhance the study of modern Israel, brings Israeli filmmakers, choreographers, musicians, writers and visual artists for residencies at top universities and other cultural organizations in North America.
The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation founded the program in 2008 to foster interactions between the artists and their communities, exposing a broader audience to contemporary Israeli culture.
“What makes The Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artist Program unique and so effective is that it allows members of the host community and the visiting artists to connect in a variety of settings, from formal to informal, over a significant period of time, rather than the more traditional one-off experience,” says Marge Goldwater, the program’s director.
“As we look back on the last eight years, we see that the success of the residencies has prompted host institutions to find ways to bring Israeli cultural leaders to their communities after the Schusterman artist has left.”
Since the program launched, there have been 68 residencies featuring 78 artists at colleges and universities across North America. The artists have included a recipient of The Israel Prize, Israel’s most prestigious award; an Emmy nominee; recipients of Israel’s highest literary awards, and many winners of multiple Israeli Oscars.
“The Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artists program is the bridge between the Israel Institute’s academic and cultural programming. These visiting artists provide more than just classes that teach skills; these artists provide a window into the heart of Israel,” said Ariel Roth, executive director of the Israel Institute.
“Cultural education provides insights into the fabric of a society in the way that other courses cannot and the understanding of students enrolled in these classes is deeper and more enriched as a result.”
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Preceding provided by the Schusterman Foundation