MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND ENGAGE ART
Who is doing this?
Engage Art is a calling for Bill and Linda Bantz. They are serial entrepreneurs, longtime arts appreciators and philanthropists. Linda has a strong background in music, and, as Bill says, she brought him along.
Engage Art's Team
Bill Bantz remains Engage Art's guiding force. Senior leadership includes Fokke Kooistra, COO, and William J. Bantz, CFO, who draw on extensive business, entrepreneurial, and digital ministry experience to shape and sustain the mission.
Ranika Chaney has been a central figure at Engage Art since 2018, and in February 2026 she was appointed Executive Director of Engage Art. As Executive Director, she leads Engage Art towards growth, multiplying human connection and deeper Scripture engagement for artists and art-lovers around the world. Kate Thomas draws on twenty years in nonprofit leadership to strengthen Engage Art's strategic growth. Isaac Morantus brings a background in filmmaking and digital engagement to his role as Content Manager.
The Engage Art Story
Engage Art began with a vision. Bill felt a strong calling from God to re-introduce artists to a wonderful source of inspiration—the Holy Scriptures. Bill and Linda see this as the moment for today’s artists to to give fresh expression to Scripture’s grand story.
Officially launched in 2018 after a year of groundwork, the Engage Art Contest ran biennially through 2022 as a juried competition for original Visual and Video Art. Artists of all backgrounds shared their gifts and perspectives on the Spiritual Battle described in Ephesians 6:10–20 and related passages. Hundreds of works of art now fill the Engage Art Gallery, a gift to the world.
Bill Bantz & Ranika Chaney on Engage Art's story.
Renewed Vision
In 2025, we renewed our core commitment to showcasing Scripture-inspired art and encouraging artists to engage Scripture more deeply as a source of personal and professional growth. The 2026 Engage Art Contest—which invites artwork to engage with any Scripture, and features winners on a global Scripture engagement platform—reflects this renewed focus.
