Hutzot HaYotzer, known in English as theArtists' Colony,[1] is anarts and crafts lane inJerusalem,Israel, located west of theOld City walls.
Hutzot Hayotzer can be translated as "The Creator Steps Out",[2] or alternatively fromHebrew and Aramaic as "the potter's section" (compound) or "the potter's hedge".[citation needed][clarification needed]
It is placed in theValley of Hinnom betweenYemin Moshe to the south, and David's Village (Kfar David in Hebrew) and theMamilla Mall to the north. Other nearby landmarks are theTeddy Park (named after MayorTeddy Kollek) andSultan's Pool to the south.
In biblical times, the land where Hutzot Hayotzer is located was part of the valley referred to inBiblical Hebrew asGei ben-Hinnom orGei ben-Hinnom, which later evolved into "Gehenna", an area used for worship rituals. In today's terms, it is placed within the north-south stretch of the Valley of Hinnom.
Between1948 and1967, the area was ano-man's land between theJordanian-held Old City and the Israeli-heldWest Jerusalem.
Construction on the artists' colony began in 1969. In 2011, the artists' collective was threatened with eviction by theEast Jerusalem Development Corporation, which owns the buildings. The eviction order was rescinded, but rents were raised.[3]
ChefMoshe Basson's restaurantThe Eucalyptus is located there.[4]
Since 1976, Hutzot Hayotzer and the Sultan's Pool area have been the site of the annual International Arts and Crafts Fair or Festival, a 12-day event in August featuring the work of local and international artists. There are also open-air concerts, workshops for children and food booths.[5] Many of Israel's leading pop and rock stars have performed at Hutzot Hayotzer[6] During the festival, the artist studios along the lane stay open late and the artists offer public demonstrations of their work.[3]
31°46′30.81″N35°13′34.25″E / 31.7752250°N 35.2261806°E /31.7752250; 35.2261806