Education and Events
Since 1991 ACE has been organising lectures, study days, conferences, workshops and retreats. These have taken place here and abroad, for a variety of groups and communities. We respond to invitations from churches, galleries, schools, art and theological colleges, house groups, societies and clubs.
ACE events
2007 CONFERENCE: Art, Faiths and Culture — Convergence and Conflict
Our biennial conference was held this year at Trinity Hall in Cambridge, 2 — 6 July.
The conference theme was chosen with a view to identifying those other major religious traditions worldwide whose aesthetic theologies and practices have much to offer our own western Christian tradition, and whose very presence enjoins us to venture beyond ACE's customary confessional boundaries. The theme is, we hope, broad enough to invite an interfaith response yet also specific enough to encourage personal contributions that are explicitly appropriate to it. Hence the conference is open to those from all faiths or none, and to those whose contributions may focus on the historically specific or the essentially contemporary, upon aesthetic theory or practice, and upon the non-visual as well as the visual arts.
The conference programme included contributions from Duncan Robinson (Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum), Edmund de Waal and Eamon Duffy; an interfaith forum; visits to Ely Cathedral and the Henry Moore Foundation; and an evening reception at Kettle's Yard.
A full report of conference papers will be published in no 52 (Oct 07) of 'Art and Christianity'.
Recent ACE events:
ACE SEMINAR:
Faith and Architecture in a multi-faith world
13 March, Ladywood ARC, Birmingham
A seminar exploring Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim places of worship, and buildings that are shared by people of different faiths.
Morning Session: Religious buildings in Ladywood; new build for 4 different faith communities
Afternoon session: Under one roof; tackling the challenge of multi-faith buildings
See issue no 50 (Apr 07) of ‘Art & Christianity’ for a report.
Supported by the Home Office and the John S Cohen Foundation.Velázquez and Religion
9 December at the National Gallery, London
The session was introduced by Dawson Carr, curator of Velázquez and speakers included David Jasper from the Dept of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Glasgow, Sara Nalle from William Paterson University, New Jersey and Ronald Truman, Christchurch, Oxford.
Abstraction and figuration in Religious Art,
20 August at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh
This event marked the success of Still by Alison Watt, the painting that won the ACE Art Award 2005/6.
Prof David Jasper gave a paper on the painting's possible interpretation through different religious perspectives. To read a copy of the paper please contact Laura Moffatt.
ACE STUDY DAY: Art, Religion and Community
— an interfaith perspective
1 May at the National Portrait Gallery
How do the Abrahamic faiths use art and architecture to create a sense of identity? What are their distinct features, and where are they similar? Can their art and architecture foster a sense of belonging today? How do contemporary artists use (and abuse) religious themes?
Speakers: Rachel Garfield has a PhD on contemporary Jewish identity in the visual arts in Britain. She is herself an artist currently making interview-based work that explores the cultural narratives of Jewish people in the community.
Thalia Kennedy is a lecturer and writer who focuses on the architecture of the Islamic world. She recently completed her PhD in which she explored issues of identity and religion through the buildings of medieval South Asia.
Charles Pickstone is an Anglican parish priest who is also a writer and art critic, with a particular interest in the ways that Christian communities use art to develop their theology and in the use that secular artists make of Christian themes.
Further education
ART AND THEOLOGY SUMMER SCHOOL
The trustees of ACE are recently conducted a survey of all theological colleges' provision of visual arts training. A pilot summer school for students of art and theology is planned for 2008 to respond to the needs of these institutions.
See our listings page for exhibitions and events.