In 1962, when ARC was founded, the executive director Marvin Halverson said that one of the purposes of the organization was to encourage fresh conversations between the communities of Art and Religion with a hope to “transform present anarchy into authentic community.”
In 2017, when a merger brought ARC into new life, we began the process of asking how we would honor the rich history of the organization and support new community growth in the years ahead. From that point forward we have been at work refining our vision, growing our board, hosting events, meeting our members, and deepening into our commitment to build up greater flourishing and justice through spiritual and creative practices.
In the past three years we’ve been able to get a lot done. We’ve hosted hundreds of artists, activists, and scholars at our annual conference. We created space for partnership with projects that showcase the best of our members, helping them to get the support needed to continue their work. We’ve generated resources for individuals, organizations, churches, and communities to wrestle with how art and religion are so central to our current realities. And in a time where trust in leadership is varied, we created space to invest in the type of leaders who reflect our most central values, and who are already doing the work needed to create new worlds of justice, compassion, and life.
Even with the progress in the last three years, there is still much work to be done. Today we’re asking you to join us in this work. We are announcing ARC’s first annual fundraising drive and we’re asking you to be a part of it. A gift of any amount is appreciated and from now until the end of October, all those who give at any level will be given ARC membership through the end of 2021. We want to see as many of you as possible add yourselves to our membership map, sharing with the world the life-giving work that you are doing.
With your support we can:
Plan for ongoing annual ARCEL cohorts.
Seek out more partnerships with local projects and organizations
Develop more in-depth reporting and stories for season 2 of The Theopoetics Podcast.
Establish regional and virtual gatherings and connection centers
Support the growing ARC presence in the UK, Australia, and Brazil
In the midst of today’s tensions and injustices, we still believe that ARC is about transformation and authentic community. We are turning to you as part of that community and asking for your help to support us growing into what comes next.
You can partner with us by offering a monthly or one time donation. Visit our DONATE page for more information. You can also support by sharing your ARC story using #IamARC. We want to know what you love about this community, what led you here, and what you are excited about creating! You can check out two of our team telling stories about #IamARC below!
