Artists need community. They need to be plugged into the local arts community where an artist is accepted without being labeled ‘weird’. A local arts community may need lots of patience toward ‘artists in the making’ because it may not be easy to walk with artists who are still undefined and possibly broken.
We are now entering into a new era for Christian artists worldwide. Global churches are affirming their unique God-given calling and gifts as valuable and part of a powerful mission force.
But where do these artists come from? Where do they find and develop their identity as Christian artists? Where do they find direction and calling? Where do they feel safe to be who they are while also being challenged to be creative? I’m convinced that every artist needs a local arts community where artists are accepted, appreciated and affirmed at the levels of being individuals and their artistic expressions.
It’s easy for an artist to create their own world and be isolated from the community, especially when they don’t feel accepted but feel judged. Every artist needs to fight against the urge to be Isolated. It’s a matter of time for an artist to get off the track or even fall when there is no community for them. An isolated and undefined artist without community will be like a premature baby in the world.
The first activity of God recorded in the scripture was creating. God is the ultimate and supreme artist, and the triune God himself is an arts-community. He creates and makes all things beautiful. We need to build and multiply local arts communities where artists are accepted as who they are, and nurtured to become who God wants them to be.
