Core Values of the Collaborative Fund

CANVAS is a Collaborative Fund dedicated to supporting and elevating the ecosystem of Jewish arts and culture.  We value diverse perspectives and believe in open, transparent communication. We maintain that working together across differences makes us stronger and helps us advance the full potential of the arts.

Our goal is to support a thriving, sustainable Jewish arts and culture sector in North America that:



    

  1. Focuses on collaboration, relevance, vitality, equity, and creativity.
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  2. Builds relationships both within and outside the Jewish community to promote cross-cultural dialogue.
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  3. Amplifies art and culture to show the richness and diversity of Jewish experience.
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In everything we do — whether it’s giving grants, advocating for the arts, or building community — CANVAS focuses on the following Core Values:




    

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    • Creativity: We value creativity in all forms and believe it can inspire, challenge, and connect people.
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    • Inclusivity: We strive to include a wide variety of voices, experiences, and perspectives, understanding this is essential to advance the Jewish arts and culture community.
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    • Collaboration: We believe in respectful cooperation and communication between all members.
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CANVAS supports free expression, understanding that belief in the power of art requires the right to free speech and an embrace of pluralism to create a more just, inclusive Jewish arts community across North America.


We recognize that at times, these values and principles mean we may be exposed to work that challenges our beliefs.


CANVAS strives to respect and welcome many perspectives, while recognizing that no single position can fully reflect the range of views among our partners and community.


We also believe that within freedom there can be parameters, and CANVAS does not support:




    

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    • Hate speech.
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    • Deliberate misinformation.
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    • Actions or words that undermine human dignity.
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    • Calls to deny specific groups of people the right to peacefully exist.
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    • Platforms that do not allow for opposing views.
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In addition, CANVAS has the following guidelines:




    

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    • CANVAS Fund Partners are united in their support of Israel’s right to exist and do not fund or support persistent, deliberate attacks on that right.
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    • Grant money cannot be used for political campaigns, lobbying, or influencing legislation.
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    • Grantees cannot use funds to support acts of violence or terrorism, or to help groups or individuals who are sanctioned by the U.S. or Canadian governments.
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We ask all members of the CANVAS community — funders, grantees, artists, mentors, and advocates — to respect Core Values and principles, and to be open to challenging conversations. We see this as an opportunity to listen, to learn from one another, and to grow as a community.