Art auction raises funds for Kibbutz Be’eri

The British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel (BFAMI) hosted the Beacon of Light Dinner and Art Auction at The Dorchester hotel in London last week in collaboration with Sotheby’s.

This year, BFAMI will be specifically supporting the emergency relief educational and art therapy programmes run by fourteen art museums across Israel, with a special grant to support the rebuilding of the art gallery at Kibbutz Be’eri, which was destroyed in the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.

The auction featured works by Jenny Saville RA, Pablo Picasso, Yulia Iosilzon, Ron Arad RA, Lewis Brander, Miriam Cabessa and more. Many Israeli artists featured including an artwork by Kibbutz Be’eri survivor Haran Kislev, whose solo exhibition Kibbutz Anxiety is currently on view at Mishkan Museum of Art, Ein Harod.

Pamela Crystal and Poju Zabludowicz, co-chairs of BFAMI, spoke of the charity’s programmes that have been “bringing people, families, children and groups closer to each other by using art practices” and the importance of art which acts as “a shield for the soul, for the community, for society. Art is a strong shield and it is our job tonight to make it even stronger”.

Sofie Berzon Mackie, co-curator of Kibbutz Be’eri Art Gallery, said: “We can defy the death and violence that has destroyed our past, with this beautiful tool we have. A tool that turns pain into hope. The tool of creation. We can begin to heal. And light the way back home. I would like to invite you to join me in this historical journey of finding hope. A mission of creating a strong, healthy vision for the future, and nurturing life where it has been destroyed”.

Israeli singer and actress Miri Mesika concluded the evening with the Hatikva.