Carnival
credit points: 1.5
Core course for Second year
Gili Godiano
A set designer for television and theater, graduate of the School of Visual Theater in Jerusalem.
She runs an independent studio for set and prop design, with experience in a wide range of materials and techniques. The studio collaborates with independent artists, institutions, and theater groups in the creation of performances—from the initial concept to the final production—providing both design and execution under one roof.
Over the years, she has worked with Yasmeen Godder Company, restoring and rebuilding props for various performances. She also designed and constructed the structure and mechanisms for the puppets in the performance Practicing Empathy.
Zohar Gottesman
Zohar Gottesman (born in Israel, 1979) is a sculptor and a graduate of the Department of Fine Arts at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem. He holds a bachelor's degree in archaeology and art history from Ben-Gurion University. Gottesman specialized in traditional sculpting techniques in Carrara, Italy.
His works have been exhibited in numerous exhibitions in museums, galleries, and public spaces in Israel and around the world, including the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, MoBY, Museum of Contemporary Art in Bolzano, Italy, Petach Tikva Museum of Art, House of Arts in Brno, Czech Republic, K.A.D.E in Amersfoort, Netherlands, and more. Gottesman has received various awards and grants, including the Young Artist Award from the Ministry of Culture and Sport, the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship, the Outset Grant for Contemporary Artists (2017/2022), the Pais Award for Visual Arts (2022/2018/2017), and the Independent Creators Grant from the Ministry of Culture and Sport. He is also a lecturer at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, the School of Multidisciplinary Art in Shenkar, and the Midrasha School of Art in Beit Berl.
“The Carnival”
Course in Building Puppets and Giant Parade Figures for the Jerusalem Purim Parade
As part of a collaboration with the Jerusalem Purim Parade, under the artistic direction of the Train Theater, a unique semester-long course will be offered, dedicated to creating carnival-style giant puppets and parade displays.
How does one create work for the street? How does a performance suit an entire family audience? What is the difference between a puppet or figure the size of a person and one that’s five meters tall?
The course combines visual design, sculpture, working with diverse materials, and various mechanisms — with the goal of creating powerful, inspiring images that will march through the streets of the city in the upcoming Purim festivities.
Students in the group will develop a collective concept, in line with the main theme of the Adloyada (Purim parade), and will accompany it through all stages of production: from initial concept and sketches, through early models, mechanical development, to large-scale construction, performer design, and costumes. The work will integrate sculpture, mechanics, costume, performance, and sound — creating a rich, multi-sensory visual spectacle.
The course includes: content about the world of carnivals and creating for family audiences, practical work in workshops, close artistic guidance, teamwork training, and comprehensive experience in planning and producing a public, poetic, and performative project.
Semester A:
About Carnival and Children’s Theatre
Developing an image into a model
Beginning practical work: construction, materials, etc.
Developing costume models
Developing the core of a performance
(Weekly class)
Semester B:
Joint work sessions on Thursdays from 09:00-12:00
Moving to the Purim Parade workshop space – details to follow
Parade dress rehearsal – details to follow
Purim Parade on March 4, 2026
*Participation in the Purim Parade on March 4 (Shushan Purim) from 9:00 to 14:00 is mandatory.
