JERUS-IT-ARTS traces the artistic dialogue between Italy and Jerusalem from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, coupling rigorous historical research with contemporary creative practice.
It acts as an international platform that interlaces archival discovery, musical and choreographic creation, and trans-Mediterranean training. Conservatoires, universities, academies, museums and digital-humanities centres in Italy, Jerusalem and beyond collaborate to rediscover centuries of artistic dialogue between the two regions and translate it into new research and performance.
The project moves along four interconnected strands.
Archival & Digital Humanities: mixed teams catalogue and study manuscripts, photographs and instruments held by the Custodia di Terra Santa and partner institutions in Italy, shedding light on Mediterranean liturgical soundscapes and visual heritage.
Creation & Performance: composers, choreographers and visual artists are commissioned to re-imagine Italo-Jerusalemite traditions; historic organs are restored, early-music practices revived, and new works premiered alongside rediscovered repertory.
Dance & Movement Studies: residencies and workshops involving the Accademia Nazionale di Danza, local troupes and scholars of movement notation explore Mediterranean kinesthetic vocabularies.
Education & Exchange: students and staff from the Magnificat Institute, the Conservatorio di Musica “A. Pedrollo” di Vicenza and other Italian and Middle-Eastern institutions engage in joint curricula, internships, summer schools and visiting-professor schemes that integrate musicology, ethnomusicology, dance studies and digital preservation.
Public engagement mirrors this balance: virtual and in-person events, interactive exhibitions and hybrid conferences invite researchers, performers and audiences to encounter archival artefacts, live productions and educational resources within one evolving environment. By giving equal weight to documentary heritage, contemporary artistry and cross-disciplinary learning, JERUS-IT-ARTS safeguards a shared past while opening new channels of cultural dialogue between Italy and Jerusalem.
