When the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was created as a living memorial to the 35th President of the United States, nations around the globe offered gifts in honor of President Kennedy. When the Center opened to the public in 1971, the young nation of Israel, not yet 25 years old, gave the gift of the Israeli Lounge.
The Kennedy Center invites designers to share a vision of a redesigned Israeli Lounge. The competition presents a unique opportunity to reshape and transform an historic space within a Memorial that is visited by millions from around the world annually. It is expected that the new design will highlight the potential and excitement of arts and cultural exchange creating a new image, mood, and artistic experience that showcases and celebrates today’s Israeli culture in an innovative and interesting way. The new design shall be a celebration of Jewish culture, including philosophy, the arts, science, and religion; should include both historical and contemporary references; and should be an homage to the country of Israel.
