(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The Bezalel Art School, established by Professor Boris Schatz in 1905, was closed yesterday because of lack of funds.
The school found itself in a critical financial position since the Zionist Executive discontinued its subsidy by a decision of the Fifteenth Zionist Congress to curtail the budget.
At one time the Bezalel school had an enrollment of 450 students in drawing, sculpture and handicrafts. There was a Bezalel national museum and a Schatz gallery connected with the school, which introduced into Palestine 35 types of handicrafts. An exhibition of the work of the students was held in the United States several years ago.
A declaration protesting against the withdrawal by the Executive of its subsidy to the Bezalel School was sent to the Executive. The signatories to the protest included both Chief Rabbis, representatives of the Hebrew Writers’ Organization, the Hebrew Teachers Organization, the Jewish Archaeological Society, the Jewish Medical Society, the Jewish Artists Club, the Jewish Musicians Association and the editors of the daily papers in Palestine.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.