About the project
The Jerusalem Foundation established the Edna & Lester Shapiro Children’s Art Center in 1995 to broaden exposure to the arts amongst kindergarten-age children, particularly those who were not likely to receive such exposure at home. Children from 25 kindergarten classes in the Kiryat Menachem area attend sessions at the center, where they paint, draw, dance, watch performances and more. The center was created by renovating a kindergarten building built in the 1950s that had fallen into disrepair and disuse, and includes an outdoor stage. Since establishment of the center, the Jerusalem Foundation has supported the periodic purchase of equipment for the center and enrichment activities. The center is one of two such facilities created by the Jerusalem Foundation.
