Yes there are many types and categories of arts, like visual arts, literary arts, and performing arts. (cf. “These different types of art encompass painting, sculpture, installation art, architecture, literature, music, cinema, and theater.”) And, believe it or not, there are some churches that really value the arts, beyond the music that is played and performed during their worship services. Some incorporate drama, dance, flags, banners, stained glass, architecture, and so on. Perhaps it’s most common, at least, most celebrated and popularized, to have worship arts and songwriting, in the life of more churches than other types of arts.
Here’s a list of churches that make space for artists to share their visual arts beyond a worship service by fostering community, have art galleries, have creative collaborations, have studio hours, have more…
- Saddleback Visual Arts at Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA)
- Arts Ministry at Marble Collegiate Church (New York, NY)
- Indy Vineyard Arts Community at Indy Vineyard Church (Indianapolis, IN)
- Dunwoody School for the Arts at Dunwoody Baptist Church (Dunwoody, GA)
- The Four Chapter Gallery at Christ Community Evangelical Free Church (Kansas City, MO)
- Center of the Arts at Intersection Church (Gettysburg, PA)
- The Abbey (Coffee, Art & Music Lounge) at Vintage Faith Church (Santa Cruz, CA)
- Creative Collective at Westgate Church (San Jose, CA)
- Creations at Seekers Church (Washington, DC)
- Art Gallery at Grace Chapel (Lexington, MA)
- Art Gallery at First Presbyterian Church (Fort Wayne, IN)
- New Renaissance has a bigger list of churches with arts ministries, at Church Arts Ministries thenewr.org/new-renaissance-church-arts-ministries
And, there’s The Network of Christians in Visual Arts ncva.community – they “organize and feature in-person events and gatherings, partnering with local organizations and hosts.”
Related articles
How to Start an Arts Ministry in Your Church https://www.crosswalk.com/culture/the-arts/how-to-start-and-arts-ministry-in-your-church.html
Created Ministry – “a gathering place to connect with God through the creative arts” (Garden Ridge, TX)
Wonderfully made: How churches are seizing on gallery spaces for art (RNS) https://religionnews.com/2017/03/27/wonderfully-made-how-churches-are-seizing-on-gallery-spaces-for-art/
Building community through arts ministry: Creators of successful arts ministries in two Minneapolis churches offer tips for starting community arts projects. https://faithandleadership.com/joy-skjegstad-building-community-through-arts-ministry
Seven Models: Collaborative Visual Arts Projects for Worship https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/seven-models-collaborative-visual-arts-projects-for-worship/
Visual Arts in Church: Making the invisible Word visible https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/visual-arts-in-church-making-the-invisible-word-visible/
Arts Ministry: Nurturing the Creative Life of God’s People https://voice.dts.edu/review/arts-ministry-bauer/
Visual and Creative Arts as Ministry: A Doorway to Transformation https://www.theologyofwork.org/the-high-calling/blog/visual-and-creative-arts-ministry-doorway-transformation
Why We Need the Visual Arts in Our Formation https://cckc.church/why-we-need-the-visual-arts/
Directory of Christian Art & Faith Organizations https://www.faithonview.com/art-faith-resources/organizations/
10 art galleries in resurrected churches https://thespaces.com/art-galleries-in-churches/