Friends of Israel Educational Foundation: Creative Writers Programmes
Modern Israel has produced a formidable group of writers and poets. Much of their work has been translated into English.
The roll call of distinguished authors include:
- S.Y. Agnon
- Amos Oz
- A.B. Yehoshua
- David Grossman
- Yehuda Amichai
- Aharon Appelfeld
F.O.I. has developed two programmes enabling British writers to engage with the many realities of modern Israeli life.
1. KIBBUTZ WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAMME
Today there are some 240 kibbutz/agro-industrial communes representing about 100,000 of the over 6 million citizens of modern Israel.
Nearly a century after the establishment of the first "collective settlement" in Israel, the kibbutz movement is still characterised by a comprehensive sharing of roles and functions, and by an egalitarian division of profits amongst members. Members and working visitors are all expected to participate fully in all branches of kibbutz life.
Individual kibbutzim are willing to provide accommodation to visiting British writers - on the explicit understanding that such visitors work their passage like any other visiting kibbutz volunteer.
The kibbutzim will also expect visiting writers to set aside at least 3-4 clear weeks for the visit.
F.O.I. can furnish travel bursaries, insurance and a small additional sum to writers willing to consider the rigours - and rewards - of such a placement.
2. OCCASIONAL STUDY TOURS FOR WRITERS
Every two or three years F.O.I. organises a celebrity study tour/reading visit to Israel by a party of British writers.
The distinguished roll-call of past participants includes :
- Martin Amis
- Julian Barnes
- Melvyn Bragg
- Ronald Harwood
- Michael Holroyd
- Hermione Lee
- Blake Morrison
- Craig Raine
- Piers Paul Read
- Bernice Rubens
- Michael Schmidt
- Marina Warner