OUR WHY:
Inspiration Made Tangible
Engage Art chases a vision where the power of the arts transforms our world. By showcasing original Scripture-inspired artwork, Engage Art empowers artists and art lovers to Engage Culture, Engage Scripture, and Engage Art.
"My faith is not what I write about or what I paint about, but it is the light by which I see.”
- Flannery O’Connor
“If the main contribution that Christians make to culture is complaining about it, we’re doing something wrong.”
- T.M. Moore, theologian, poet, and Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe
Engaging in the arts means engaging with culture.
Every artwork—film, song, poem, painting, dance—reflects and shapes the world we live in.
As artist Makoto Fujimura writes, “Culture is not a territory to be won or lost but a resource we are called to steward with care. Culture is a garden to be cultivated.”
Engage Art invites you to cultivate culture through your creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning, this is a space to learn, explore, and reflect on the greatest Artist of all.
“The Bible has been the single greatest source and influence for literature, painting, and music in the history of the world.”
— Frank E. Gaebelein
Practically Engaging With Scripture
Engage Art invites artists to approach Scripture as a source of creative inspiration. Now is the time for this generation to contribute a fresh take on the depiction of the grand story shared in the Scripture.
For centuries, artists have drawn inspiration from the Bible. Bach’s music was clearly about his deep and abiding faith, as were select pieces by Mozart. Bouguereau and Manet, both Catholic, created secular art mostly and are known as secular artists, but they also addressed scriptural themes. Many modern artists who came after them did, as well, including Chagall (Jewish), Dali (“Catholic without faith”), and Matisse (atheist).
Scripture has always sparked creativity, shaping art, culture, and even the world’s great museums. Engage Art invites today’s artists to carry forward the great tradition—exploring Scripture through your art practice and creating works that call others to engage Scripture, too.
Scripture Resources for Art Lovers
We showcase Scripture-inspired artwork to illuminate, inform, and inspire the world—and hopefully, to support artists and art lovers in their spiritual journeys, as well! Wherever you are in your spiritual life or as an artist, we invite you to follow in the great tradition of drawing artistic inspiration from the Christian Scriptures. In addition to a Gallery with thousands of Scripture-inspired artworks, Engage Art offers:
- Monthly Bible Clusters via Facebook/Zoom
- Scripture Plans on YouVersion (bible.com)
- Newsletters to inspire and encourage
- Many more free resources
“Through the history of the Christian church there runs a wide and roaring river of artistic glory, feeding believers and unbelievers alike.”
— N. D. Wilson
Nothing New Under the Sun
It’s not a new idea to use the arts to celebrate, praise God, or explore faith. Scripture tells us that the Children of Israel made music, sang, and danced after the victory over the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Exodus conveys that God wanted beautiful things for his Tabernacle—metalwork, fabric, tapestry, and architecture. Jesus was a first-rate storyteller. The Psalms are a songbook, and the Old Testament is full of poetry. Members of the early Christian Church drew a symbol of a fish to identify themselves and created frescoes in the catacombs under Rome. Even the first human, Adam, was instructed by God to create and tend a garden.
Creativity comes in many flavors, but we are all uniquely creative. We hope Engage Art can help foster a renewed connection between artists and the church.
Are you ready to Engage Art?
