teens who have attended ArtsFest since 2006  OVERWHELMINGLY AGREE that it was an AWESOME EXPERIENCE.

It was the most exciting week of their lives.

They acted.  They sang.  They danced.  They played.  They wrote.  They cooked. They created. They performed beyond their wildest expectations. 

Teen artists spend the majority of each day in master classes with a professional artist-in-residence, preparing for the closing event.  In the evenings, teens relax with their host family, enjoy fun social events at the JCC, and look forward to special activities in the local community. A few hours during the week will be devoted to a Days of Caring and Sharing service project in the host community.  Thursday is spent preparing exhibits and performances for the gala finale.  Formal appreciation of excellence is part of each art specialty.  

Each artist-in-residence establishes requirements for participation, which range from a strong interest in a particular art specialty to auditions at the JCC to proven ablility through the submission of audio/and or video tapes.  Local JCC delegation heads will explain the requirements.  Once a delegation head confirms that a teen is eligible to participate, registration is completed online.

JCC Association is the managing partner for JCC Maccabi ArtsFest and works closely with host communities to develop a special program unique to each community. There are two ways to sign up for JCC Maccabi ArtsFest.  Call your local JCC and ask for the delegation head.  To find a JCC in your area click here.  If you do not live within an hour’s drive of a local JCC, please email us at info@jccmaccabiartsfest.org for more information.  JCCs set their own fees, which vary based on geographic area and distance traveled to ArtsFest.

JCC delegations travel to ArtsFest with adult staff members or lay leaders from their community.  There is a 1:10 ratio of teens to adult delegation heads and chaperones.  Adults take great care to make sure that teens enjoy a safe time while they are away from home.   

JCC Maccabi ArtsFest connects hundreds of Jewish teens with similar interests to each other, the arts, and their local JCC.

Through JCC Association's efforts, the JCC Maccabi Games® have grown to the point where close to 6,000 teens from many different countries participate each summer. We hope to build on this successful foundation and create another opportunity for Jewish teens to meet. This new youth development initiative is designed to attract those teens who have a strong interest in the arts. JCC Maccabi ArtsFest connects thousands of Jewish teens with similar interests to each other, the arts, and their local Jewish Community Centers.