WIZO Haifa Academy of Design and Education is a school of art located in the German Colony in Haifa, Israel. It is the leading professional and academic institution for higher education in art in northern Israel.[1]
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The academy was founded in 1971 by the international WIZO organization to train professional artists and art teachers. Initially, the academy shared a building with the WIZO high school of art in Haifa. In 2004 the academy moved to a new modern building located in the German Colony. The academy is headed by David Alexander.
The academy has five departments in the design professions - Architecture, Management, Graphic design, Photography and Fashion design. The design studies are combined with getting a profession in education. The academy is destined to qualify the students to become teachers in the post-primary schools in the fields of design and education.
The building that houses the academy today, formerly a youth center, was renovated by architects Yoram Poper and A. Hirsch together with Luciano Santandreu, winners of the design competition. [2]The entrance floor serves as a gallery to alternating exhibitions of the students and artists. The building's interior was designed in a modern and dynamic style whereas its exterior blends with the character of other old structures in the German Colony.