Faith should harness art's appeal

I came across this very interesting article in The Guardian by Jennie Hogan and here strap line is...

Tate Modern shows that art now inspires on a scale that religion once did. Churches should get a piece of the action

As she points out churches were once major patrons of the arts but no more....

Despite the centrality of faith in the art of centuries past, religious themes within contemporary art are fading fast. At Chelsea College of Art & Design, where I work as chaplain, God is dead. As students in their studios aspire to join the avant garde there is only a faint desire to look back at works in which the Christian tradition is central. Perhaps when universal themes such as death, suffering and delight are explored though a religious and theological lens the students cannot see them. Could it be then that art is replacing religion?

But as the article goes on to say it isn't all doom and gloom...

The Reformation damaged the natural connection between art and faith but some places are making serious attempts to heal it. All Hallows on the Wall in the City has created a venue, Wallspace, and describes itself as a spiritual home for visual art. St Paul's Cathedral may not attract the same numbers as Tate Modern, but the UK's most famous church has recently been commissioning work from prominent artists. Antony Gormley created Flare II, a shimmering, almost abstract form which revolves mysteriously below Wren's geometric staircase. Bill Viola is creating video installations for two altarpieces. Some commissioned works are explicitly religious but many others are not. Clearly, the dean and chapter are keen to explore faith though art. 

I know from the work we do with Wellspring helping Christian musicians as well as other artists, that many are not respected or understood and remain sat in the pew unable to use their gifts to express their response to God in church. The church also has a view that artists should give their gifts for free especially in this country. The church is no longer a patron of the arts commissioning (paying for) art in all its forms. There are all sorts of opportunities for engaging all sectors of our communities like asking artists to explore issues, as Jenny suggests, starting with the universal themes like birth, life, suffering, delight, and death.

Come on Church, engage with your communities and use people's creative talents to explore the issues that are front and centre in their lifes.