Jerusalem International Ice Festival , 6.3-30.4.12
Ice City
The Jerusalem Municipality and Isracard Company, in a production by Ariel
Company, are creating a gigantic Ice City in Jerusalem
The Jerusalem Ice Festival, March 6th-April 30th
For the first time in Israel- Jerusalem will host the International Ice
Festival
The festival will take place March-April 2012 at the Jerusalem Train Site,
and will include a spectacular exhibition and an attractive course for
visitors
Fairytale world, an ice bar, skating rinks, childhood stories, Jerusalem
made of ice
In Jerusalem an "Ice City" will be created where its famous sites would be
sculpted with ice and presented in a giant complex, in a temperature of -10
degrees* hundreds of tons of Israel-made ice blocks * 35 expert Chinese
artists, sculptors and builders will fly to Israel to sculpt the exhibits*
An ice skating rink* an ice bar and performance space* tens of artistic
sculptures presented with magnificent lighting*
The festival is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, from
Israel and around the world. *Visitors will receive coats on entrance
This winter, Jerusalem will host the first International Ice Festival in
Israel, which will be set for two months at the city's train site. The
festival will showcase tens of colorful and artistic ice sculptures, skating
rinks and a variety of experiences for art fanatics and their families. The
festival arena includes a unique sculptures site and an additional skating
area, and it is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from
Israel and abroad to Jerusalem.
This festival, like its equivalents in Harbin, China and Bruges, Belgium and
like many international ice festivals that take place around the world, is
expected to draw people to Jerusalem from Israel and abroad.
In the giant complex that will operate in a temperature of -10 degrees an
ice sculpture exhibition will be established, divided into four sections:
Jerusalem of Ice: The unique sites of Jerusalem, including the Tower of
David, the Montefiore Flour Mill, the infamous "Monster" etc.
Animals and Childhood Stories World: Characters from the childhood stories
"Dira Lehaskir" ("Apartment for rent"), "Mitz Petel" ("raspberry Juice")
etc. will be presented.
Fantasy Arena: includes Sculptures from children's fairytales. The children
will experience fairytale scenes and walk inside stories such as Snow White,
Hansel and Gretel and more. Unique ice slides will be set up so the children
could slide and enjoy.
Ice Bar: A bar area including ice sculptures by Jerusalem artists. The
visitors will walk through the ice version of Jaffa Gate, and experience a
unique course through the different arenas, also enjoying the skating rink
installed.
The festival's production is one of the most complex logistical operations
ever to take place in Israel. A special 1500m arena will be brought from
Belgium and installed by "Itzuv Bama" Company. A uniquely built cooling
system will bring the temperature down to -10 degrees and insure a correct
flow of air. Hundreds of tons of ice blocks will be made in Israel, and
turned into spectacular exhibits and sculptures. Visitors will receive coats
on entrance.
This February, a group of 35 artists, sculptors, lighting technicians,
designers and builders will arrive in Israel from China. During one month,
they will install and design the Ice exhibition. The intense work will be
accompanied by Israeli professionals and translators (The process of
preparation and ice sculpting may be observed with special permits).
A joint team from Israel and china is currently working on the festival's
content, emphasizing the visitor's experience, combining the famous
ice-sculpted sites of Jerusalem and the children's world. Plans and sketches
are passed between the Chinese and Israeli teams in order to reach a tight
concept, combining the ice experience with the unique experience Jerusalem
gives to adults and children as one.
The event was initiated by Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Nir Barkat and Ariel
Company CEO Mr. Zion Turgeman. The Jerusalem Municipality and Ariel Company
have decided to make this festival a yearly winter tradition and turn it
into a core event alongside other events that have taken place in the
Capital in recent years, showing the tight connection between cultural
events, tourism and the city's flourishing. This festival's echo
demonstrates that it is en route to becoming one of the largest cultural
events Israel has ever seen so far.
Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Nir Barkat, said: "The revolution of culture in
Jerusalem will break new records this year. The international ice festival,
one of the largest in the world is joining the list of leading festivals in
the city that have already gained an international recognition such as the
Opera festival, the Light festival and the Hutzot Hayotzer Festival".
Ariel Company CEO, Mr. Zion Turgeman said: "The unique festival is part of
the concept that the Mayor leads to hold large international festivals in
Jerusalem, attracting artists from around the world, allowing the Israeli
public to enjoy an impressive artistic experience and attract a large and
varied audience of families as well as art fanatics."
The project is sponsored by Isracard Company and Yahav Bank.
Entry fee: 65NIS.
For ticket orders and purchase: "Bimot" 02-6237000 or *6226
Further details can be found online: http://www.ariel-jer.org.il/
For more information, please contact Inbar Mayo
at 03-5598438.
