FENTSTER

Who is leading SHVILIM?

The SHVILIM collaborative is led by: FENTSTER (a Jewish arts organization), No Silence on Race (dedicated to celebrating ethnically diverse Jewish experiences), and Shoreline Collaboratives (leaders in equity-driven organizational change).

In addition to the principals of our three organizations, our team is made up of artists, arts leaders, educators, equity experts, and Jewish leaders who joined us to map out new paths in a time of polarization. Collectively, we hold expertise in equity and antiracism work as well as in Jewish culture and history. While we hold a range of perspectives and political orientations, we all share a commitment to building a better world through collaboration. We navigate by listening, grappling, and challenging each other with respect and resilience. This initiative presented a unique opportunity in which our shared passions and strengths could make an impact in a sector that brings us joy, community, purpose, and inspiration.

SHVILIM & the Ontario Arts Council

In May 2023, the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) sought out community-based partners to lead projects in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) for a number of demographic groups.

The SHVILIM team was selected through a competitive process.

As a commissioned pilot program, it is one of several initiatives that the OAC has supported for engaging with equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility work in the sector.

Why is this initiative being carried out at this time?

In response to a steady increase in incidents and expressions of antisemitism, in May 2023, the OAC shared a call for expressions of interest for leaders on a new project addressing antisemitism through the arts. Although this initiative is not a reaction to current global events, it is grounded in an understanding of the intensified climate facing Jews, Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims, including within the arts community.

Recognizing that discussions around antisemitism can be emotionally charged and polarizing, our team seeks to de-escalate the discourse in order to centre collaborative allyship while harnessing the power of the arts to draw attention to our shared humanity.

READ ABOUT THE VALUES & APPROACHES DRIVING SHVILIM:

What HAs SHVILIM BEEN engaged in?

From April 2024 through July 2025, SHVILIM carried out a project commissioned by the Ontario Arts Council to address antisemitism through the arts. SHVILIM began by seeking to better understand the Jewish experience in the Ontario arts sector. We established a robust advisory network of Jews and allies to guide the work at every stage, including artists, educators, arts managers, Jewish spiritual leaders, and equity professionals. The first phase of our work culminated by creating and launching Bridging Worlds, a set of resources aimed at the Ontario arts sector, with broad-based applicability. We have also prepared a summary of our project’s progress to date and recommendations for ongoing inquiry and opportunities for the development of initiatives, programming, tools and resources.