Re-engaging with the Arts

Bishop David, Patron of commission4mission

Henry Shelton with 'Do this in remembrance of me'

Rosalind Hore's 'Pieta'

Bishop David has just sent out his Advent mailing including a new publicity leaflet for commission4mission. Bishop David writes that, commission4mission "has come into being this summer as a result of conversations I have had with some artists in the Barking Area."

He adds that, "for centuries the Arts have been an important medium through which public communication of the faith has taken place." In the leaflet he says that “the Church has had a lengthy and happy marriage with the Arts in the past but needs more artists." He agrees with Rowan Williams that ‘artists are special people and every person is a special kind of artist’ and writes that there is a big need for the Church "to re-engage with the Arts."

commission4mission exists to encourage the commissioning and placing of contemporary Christian Art in churches, as a means of fundraising for charities and as a mission opportunity for churches.

commission4mission promotes the purchase of artworks by churches through donations given in memory of loved ones, with these people being commemorated in plaques placed (wherever possible) on or near the artwork itself.

Membership of commission4mission is open to any Christian artist (of any discipline) or supporter of Christian Art. commission4mission members pay an annual subscription and for this receive: a vote in organising committee elections; places on commission4mission events/ conferences; and promotion of their work to churches through commission4mission’s activities.

The fees for all artwork (of whatever type and media) sold to churches through commission4mission are determined using the following:

• a charge for materials/expenses claimed by the artist in creation of the work;
• an optional fee to the artist for the creation of the work;
• a contribution towards the work of co-mission; and
• a donation to a charity or charities.
  

commission4mission’s objectives are to:

• provide opportunities for churches to obtain and commission contemporary Christian Art for church buildings;
• provide information, ideas and examples of contemporary Christian Art and its use/display within church settings; and
• raise funds for charities through commissions and sales of contemporary Christian Art.
  

As a result we are involved in:

1. Creating a database of members able to create artworks for churches.

2. Promoting an approach to the commissioning and placing of contemporary Christian Art in churches as a means of fundraising for charities.

3. Organising conferences, exhibitions, meetings, seminars, visits etc. to provide information, ideas and examples of contemporary Christian Art and its use/display within church settings.

4. Displaying member’s work through brochures, exhibitions, leaflets, websites etc.

At present Henry Shelton and I, as founding members, are building up an initial pool of members (both artists of all disciplines and those interested in supporting the arts). We are planning towards:

• a launch event on Saturday 7th March at St Albans Romford which will include: a art tour of St Albans by Father Hingley (includes works by Mark Cazalet, Patrick Reyntiens, Peter Eugene-Ball etc.); a commission4mission AGM; a keynote speech by the Bishop of Barking; and refreshments; and
• a showcase exhibition (2nd - 7th November) and study day (7th November) at Chelmsford Cathedral which will include input on commissions from the Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral, Chelmsford DAC, and the Bishop of Barking.
  

Our members currently include: David Hawkins; Rosalind Hore; Henry Shelton; and Celia Ward, among others. We will also be working together with 'Faith & Image' and their co-ordinator Mark Lewis, who is a silversmith and Arts Lecturer at London Metropolitan University. Mark and several other members of Faith & Image plan to become commission4mission members and both organisations will collaborate on events and publicity.

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U2 - Yahweh.