What do contemporary Israeli art, a group of people in Melbourne and a flower packing shed have in common? These disparate elements have been drawing closer together for the past several years, as Partnership 2000 activists in Melbourne and their counterparts in the Arava considered different ways to associate the region with art, in order to promote regional development. The desert stretching all the way to the horizon and the great bowl of the Arava sky seem particularly suited to the creation of artwork, and many artists already live in the region. The idea was to make artists and art lovers to think "Arava" when thinking of art in Israel, as with Ein Hod in the northern part of the country, or Santa Fe in New Mexico in the United States.

Many ideas were discussed, and finally the first step was decided upon: to turn a former flower packing house in the Sapir industrial area in the center of the Arava into a place in which artwork could be displayed, created by nationally and internationally known artists, as well as "homegrown" talent. The very first exhibit, which included some of the best known names in contemporary Israeli art, such as Angela Klein, Larry Abramson, Moshe Ninio and many others, opened its doors to the public in December, with a festive opening ceremony attended by many of the region's residents. Newly elected Head of the Regional Council Ezra Ravins, who has also been a very active Partnership 2000 volunteer himself, addressed the gathering, holding a package of multi-colored capsicums in order to point up the changes that have taken place over the years.

Volunteer activist Celia Yitzhak, who has been closely involved in the project from its inception, spoke on behalf of Partnership 2000, and thanked our Australian counterparts for their support. She expressed the hope that this exhibit would be the first of many.

Following are a few words sent to us from Australia for the occasion:

Ron Finkel - Co-Chair Arava Australia Leadership Group:
On behalf of the Australian Partnership of the Central Arava, it gives me great pleasure to send you warm greetings and best wishes for every success on the opening of the Arava Arts Festival.  We have always felt that the Central Arava region could become a serious magnet for artists from Israel and abroad. We are witness to the attraction the region has already been for Australians such as the sculptor Andrew Rogers and the photographer Emmanuel Santos. The work of the community in raising the profile of the region as an attraction for artists is to be applauded and we, here in Australia, both directly and though our Partnership, are committed to assisting the region achieve its artistic aspirations.

Tamara Bruce - ALG Melbourne liaison for the project:
The opening of the Desert Art Exhibition is a very exciting and rewarding occasion. I remember my first visit to the Arava in November 2003. As we drove through the desert, rays of afternoon sun began to stretch through the sky after an unexpected flash flood. Silvery streams of water flowed in every direction creating a visual contrast to the dark outlines of the sand and rock. I can still see the colors of the desert now.
It is my sincere hope that this exhibition will begin to draw artists and art lovers to the Central Arava, to experience the rugged beauty of it's environment through the prism of it's unique light.