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 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 Projectincluded 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.)


The concerts and the new 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


Carolyn Losos  Chair 


Batya Abramson-Goldstein  Arts & Fatih St. Louis


Laura Arnold  Webster Groves Presbyterian Church


Rev. Sheila Bouie-Sledge North Park United Methodist Church


Gretta Forrester Arts & Faith St. Louis


Leonard Frankel Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis


Dr. Laura Franklin  Saint Louis University


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


Leslie Heberlie  Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis


Rev. Dieter Heinzl  Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church (USA)


Frank Jacobs Arts & Faith St. 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


Brian Mackay Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


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


Michael P. McMillan  Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis


Timothy O’Leary  Opera Theatre of Saint Louis


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


Maharat Rori Picker Neiss  Jewish Community Relations Council


Garnita L. Pleas James  African Methodist Episcopal Church


Paul K. Reuter  The Sheldon Concert Hall & Art Galleries


Rev. C. Jessel Strong  African Methodist Episcopal Church



ADMINISTRATION


Paul Reuter  Administrative Coordination


Barbara Murray   Development, Marketing and Public Relations Coordination


Quintin Reed  Event Production and Community Engagement Coordination

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