"URGENT TALK" is a new platform to discuss urgent topics with artists, curators, critics and activists who are making changes in the world. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the Japan-Israel Diplomatic Relations. In "Urgent Talk 012," we'd welcome Rivka Saker, the Chairman of Sotheby's Israel, and the Founder and the Board Chair of "Artis," a non-profit organization based in New York and Tel Aviv that supports and promotes contemporary visual artists from Israel internationally, to talk about the current status of Israeli art. Artis has been promoting the Israeli contemporary art scene worldwide through their various activities -- by conducting and supporting curators’ research as well as artist-in-residence programs -- that culminate in exhibition planning altogether. In the second half of the program, Japanese curators who participated in IKT (International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art) held in Tel Aviv this spring on this special year, making a research trip there to learn more substantially about Israeli art, will make a report and discussion of this trip and their experiences there. It's been pointed out that more of the political coverage of the conflict stands out and the cultural aspects of Israel hardly come out on the surface. Nonetheless, it will be a great opportunity for us to consider the situations surrounding contemporary art and culture of Israel on this occasion. Organizers:  Mori Art Museum, Embassy of Israel Date and Time:  19:00 - 20:30 (Door open: 18:30), Thursday, 24 May 2012 Lecturer:  Rivka Saker (Founder and Board Chair of “Artis,” Chairman of Sotheby's Israel) Discussion Panelists:  Osaka Eriko (Director, Yokohama Museum of Art), Iida Shihoko (Curator, Aichi Triennale 2013), Okamura Keiko (Curator, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography) Moderators:  Sugase Motoko (Cultural Section, Embassy of Israel), Tsuchiya Takahide (Senior Coordinator, Curatorial Department, Mori Art Museum) * NO Japanese-English Simultaneous Interpretation Available Venue:  Gallery 1, Mori Art Museum (53F, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower) Capacity:  80 (bookings required) Admission:  Free (exhibition ticket required) Bookings:  here Inquiries: Public Programs, Mori Art Museum (11:00-17:00 on weekdays) Tel: 03-6406-6101(direct);   Rivka Saker (Founder and Board Chair of Artis, Chairman of Sotheby's Israel) Rivka Saker has been with Sotheby's since 1982, when she established Sotheby's first office in Israel. In 1994 she became Managing Director of Sotheby's Israel and Senior Director of Sotheby's Europe. In May 2006 she was appointed Chairman of Sotheby's Israel. Ms. Saker is philanthropically involved with several cultural institutions: She serves on the board of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation; Muzot, a school in Jaffa for troubled youth; and the Center of Contemporary Art. She is closely involved with the MFA Program of Bezalel Academy of Art and is co-chairing "Here and Now," a committee for acquisitions of Israeli art for the Israel Museum. Since 2003, Ms. Saker has been involved with AIDA, the Association of Israeli Decorative Arts, which helps Israeli decorative arts artists overseas. Ms. Saker was among the founders of ARTLV, the international art biennial in Tel Aviv. Perhaps her most distinguished philanthropic endeavor is Ms. Saker's establishment of Artis, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes contemporary visual artists from Israel internationally. About Artis Artis, founded in 2004 and based in New York with activities in Los Angeles and Tel Aviv, is an nonprofit organization that supports and promotes contemporary visual artists from Israel internationally, advance opportunities for cultural understanding and dialogue through artist commissions, talks and events; exhibition and professional development grants; research trips to Israel for arts professionals and collectors; professional development initiatives; and its own online resource. Recognizing the complexity of national identity, Artis' programs support outstanding and diverse artists who have lived or worked in Israel. Artis website:  www.artiscontemporary.org