The Art Fellowship at Drexel Hillel: A New Initiative
About the Fellowship
The arts have been a vital part of Jewish life for millennia. At Drexel Hillel we wanted to create deeper, more sustained avenues for students to explore the arts as a manifestation of their Jewish identities. We asked how might we make the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the Jewish people more accessible for our students? How can we help students to experience art-making as a vital Jewish spiritual and wellness practice? And how might we better engage visual and tactical learners in Jewish life and learning?
In Fall of 2021, Drexel Hillel launched a first-in-the-field Artist-Educator Residency to address these questions. The project builds relationships between Drexel students and working artists with a passion for Jewish life and learning. It enhances student engagement with Jewish values, culture and heritage, and supports their mental wellness and spiritual development.
Capitalizing on Drexel University’s reputation for attracting students who value hands-on learning, and the more than 2,000 students studying at the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, this new Artist-Educator Residency allows Drexel Hillel to better meet the needs and interests of Jewish students on campus.
