OUR BELIEFS


The arts have a unique power to inspire thoughtful discussion among diverse audiences, to bring people together, and to bridge divides through shared experiences.


There are issues that would benefit from considered collaboration between the arts and the faith community.  There is no other organized, ongoing activity elsewhere in our community with this focus.


This process of collaboration will build on the St. Louis community's traditions of strong interfaith and inter-group collaboration, mutual respect among diverse groups, and civility in public discourse.



OUR STATEMENT ON RACIAL EQUITY


Arts & Faith St. Louis is outraged and saddened by the murder of George Floyd and the many other instances of racism and violence inflicted on Black Americans in our country over many years.  


We deplore systemic racism and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Black community in calling for racial justice and transformation that leads to greater equity in our society.  


There is no room for any form of hatred in our hearts and acts of violence in our communities. We’ve made mistakes in the past and we acknowledge that we have not done enough. 


We pledge to continue working to ensure that our leadership and programming are racially diverse and to work for a more harmonious St. Louis, both as an organization and as individuals, so as to dismantle systemic racism and create a society that uplifts the dignity of all human beings.


2020 FOCUS ST. LOUIS AWARD RECIPIENT: "What Is Right With the Region Award" 


for "Fostering Creativity for Social Change"

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OUR HISTORY 


Interfaith Concerts


Arts & Faith St. Louis began on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 with an interfaith commemoration in music at The Sheldon Concert Hall. The concert, which has become an annual event, has been presented to capacity audiences each year. 


Headlined by renowned soprano Christine Brewer and other acclaimed local musicians, the event also showcases the performances of many diverse faith groups, providing attendees with a unique opportunity for reflection, unity, and peace. 


Beyond the Annual Concerts


In recent years Arts & Faith St. Louis expanded its reach with a wide range of projects to bring groups together through artistic expressions and interfaith connections.


In February 2017 The Cave Project included performances of The Cave, a multimedia opera, reminding us of the common roots of the three Abrahamic religions. Additional programs presented as part of The Cave Project included lectures, presentations, and concerts. Videos, which premiered at the annual 2016 concert, have focused on interfaith youth and their approaches to building a more harmonious St. Louis.


A collaboration with the Saint Louis Art Museum in fall 2017 has produced interfaith tours specifically designed to demonstrate common elements of our world’s great religions in art produced throughout the ages. Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis has played an invaluable role in developing these tours.


In 2018 panel discussions were as added as new event programming at both the Saint Louis Art Museum and the St. Louis County Library. (Click on tabs for SLAM Events and SLCL Events for details.)


St. Louis County Library: In fall 2018 a program by the St. Louis County Library, Daniel Boone Branch in collaboration with Arts & Faith presented a panel (Venerable Jue Huang, Fo Guang Shan Saint Louis Buddhist Center, Dr. David Oughton, Saint Louis University, Department of Theological Studies, Dr. Rosalynde Welch, scholar and writer) discussing select Ancient Egyptian, Buddhism and Mormon paintings and ritual.


Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) Arts and Faith sponsored a tour of the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) on the campus of St Louis University fall 2018.  Father Terrence Dempsey, then the director of MOCRA, presented a “walking lecture” on the theme of COMPASSION as expressed in various pieces on display in their 25th anniversary show. 


In fall 2018, Arts & Faith collaborated with Good Shepherd Arts Center (GSAC) Ferguson on an art exhibit “Children of Abraham for Peace and Justice".


In spring 2020, Arts & Faith St. Louis began an ongoing collaboration with the St. Louis Storytelling Festival which has co-presented storytelling events at the monthly Story Lounge at the new High Low facility in Grand Center on themes of mutual interest, this year focusing on the theme of “compassion,” tying into the theme of our upcoming concert. A well-attended virtual “Stories of Compassion” event was part of the spring 2020 St. Louis Storytelling Festival.


The concerts and program offerings demonstrate the transformational power of shared musical and visual arts experiences!


WHO WE ARE

Arts & Faith St. Louis is guided by a diverse group of leaders from arts organizations and faith communities: 


ARTS & FAITH ST. LOUIS PLANNING COMMITTEE


Laura Arnold  Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, Chair


Batya Abramson-Goldstein  Arts & Fatih St. Louis


Bala Anantharama  The Hindu Faith


Rev. Sheila Bouie-Sledge North Park United Methodist Church


David Brinker  Museum of Contemporary Religious Art


James Comininellis   Archdiocese of St. Louis


Erin Fisher  Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis


Gretta Forrester Annunziata Catholic Church


Dr. Ghazala Hayat, MD  Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis


Rev. Dieter Heinzl  Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church (USA)


Frank Jacobs Jacobs International Cheers


Andrew Jorgensen Opera Theatre of Saint Louis


Rabbi Howard Kaplansky  Arts & Faith St. Louis 


Jim Kemp  First Congregational Church of St. Louis, UCC


Milton Kendrick III   Central Baptist Church - St. Louis


Eugene Kornblum   Arts & Faith St. Louis


Mont Levy  Arts & Faith St. Louis


Carolyn Losos Arts & Faith St. Louis


Phyllis Markus  Michael and Barbara Newmark Institute for Human Relations / JCRC


Michael P. McMillan  Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis


Madalyn Mentor Opera Theatre of St. Louis


F. Javier Orozco, OFS, PhD  Archdiocese of St. Louis


Maharat Rori Picker Neiss  Jewish Community Relations Council


Rev. Jim Poinsett  Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis


Paul K. Reuter  The Sheldon Concert Hall & Art Galleries


Shima Rostami  Shia Islam


Angela Sander Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints



ADMINISTRATION


Paul Reuter  Administrative Director


Barbara Murray   Fundraising and Publicity


Megan Gaxiola  Concert Production

Past Videos

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