Lesson 23

A Place to Create and Display

Jessie Nilo explains the benefits and considerations of having a studio and gallery as part of your art ministry.

Not every art ministry requires a physical art studio or gallery, but having them can be a blessing.
Considerations for a Gallery
Mission: What is the mission of your church/organization/group? Pray and see if a gallery can support that mission.
Structure: Entry packets and announcements. Decide who will be invited to display art, who will jury/curate, and
who will install the artwork.
Size: Large and small displays serve people in different seasons (times of festive muchness, times of quiet focus).
Leading through Visual Art: Art can represent truth and goodness through beauty.
Written Communication: Publishing your display spaces mission through a manifesto, entry packet explanation,
and/or gallery signage helps your artists understand the purpose of your display area, and helps your audience
engage with art more confidently. Printing artist statements is one way of ushering your viewers into a deeper
experience with the artwork, furthering the interaction between artist and viewer, educating the viewer, and
offering a way for the artist to explore connections inherent in their own artwork. In fact, our entry packets specify
that the written statement should complement the experience of the particular artwork itself, rather than act as a
promotional bio for the artist. Examples of our entry packet PDFs are included in the attachments below.
Jessie offers more thoughts about ministering through galleries in The Creative Church Handbook, page 206-214.

Lesson 23

A Place to Create and Display

Considerations for a Studio

Mission: What is the mission of your church/organization/group? Pray and find out if a studio can support that mission.
Common uses of the VineArts Studio include Open Studio, workshops, and hosting special interest groups who are
from their own church, from other churches, and groups in the public for just a small donation to cover supplies.

Main demographics who are served through the VineArts Studio:

1. The public: Artists and non-artists experience God in a safe, welcoming place; the back row of the church.
2. The congregation: People find their own creativity; ministry leaders begin using art in their own ministry.
3. The art leadership team: We serve the pastors and congregation by creating liturgical art in the studio.

First priority is always ministering with sensitivity. Second priority is educating people with grace.
Labeling everything says: We know what we are doing. (The way we serve you is important to us.)
Cleanliness and order says: We care about you; you are welcome here. Try resetting the studio to a clean palette
after every use, taking it back to a neutral, agreed-upon studio setting that best serves everyones needs.