Elad Schechter

An Art Founder on his Global Journey with Woolf

I am Elad Schechter, a choreographer, cultural curator, and artistic director based in Jerusalem. This beautiful city I was born and raised in, with its layered histories and vibrant communities, has shaped much of my work. I studied dance professionally and worked internationally with various companies before founding c.a.t.a.m.o.n Dance Group, an independent platform for performances and festivals that promote cultural dialogue. In 2023, I completed a Master’s degree in Arts Management and Arts Innovation through the Global Leaders Institute, Woolf.

Woolf’s structure, paired with GLI’s global vision, offered me a rare and timely opportunity to deepen my understanding of cultural leadership while remaining fully immersed in my practice. The flexibility of the program meant I didn’t have to step away from my organization or creative work and could integrate what I was learning directly into the projects I was leading.

What stood out most was the multidisciplinary nature of the program. The coursework was academically rich and always grounded in the real world. It gave me tools I could apply immediately, whether structuring a festival budget, designing a public arts initiative, or developing partnerships. Just as important was the peer community that I gained through the program, a group of choreographers, musicians, curators, and educators from around the world, all engaged in meaningful exchange. It felt less like studying and more like being part of a living, global conversation.

This degree helped me give structure to things I had been doing instinctively for years. It clarified how to scale grassroots projects sustainably, how to speak across sectors, and how to connect creativity with long-term impact. It also helped me see myself differently, not just as an artist but as a cultural leader capable of shaping civic spaces through art.

One pivotal moment was presenting a case study on a festival I had curated in Jerusalem. The feedback I received from mentors and peers pushed me to articulate its broader impact both in artistic terms and in policy and community development. That moment reframed the way I think about my work, and I got to see that what we do as artists often resonates far beyond the stage.

If you’re considering a Woolf program, I’d say you really have to bring everything you are. Your creative practice, your questions, your experiences — they all belong here. This isn’t a program where you disappear into theory. It’s a dynamic space for reflection, experimentation, and connection. The mentorship is generous, and the international community is rich with insight. What you put in, you’ll get back many times over.

Right now, I’m preparing for the premiere of a new creation at the Suzanne Dellal Center in Tel Aviv, followed by performances in Jerusalem. My time at Woolf continues to shape how I build collaborations across sectors, across borders, and across disciplines. I now move more fluidly between local and global contexts, with a deeper understanding of how culture can serve as both expression and infrastructure.