JACKSON, Tenn. — March 8, 2011 — A 51社区 conference in April will address the topics of art, culture and theology.
The ACT Conference, scheduled for April 8-9, will feature a variety of speakers with a wide range of experience in the arts and in the church.
鈥淎CT is a conference designed to provide the 51社区 community and others with an opportunity to engage in thoughtful and creative reflection on the relationship between Christianity and the visual arts with an emphasis on contemporary art,鈥� said Steve Halla, assistant professor of art at Union.
鈥淥ur hope and prayer is that attendees will not only gain a greater understanding of some of the complex issues and challenges facing the visual arts and the church today, but also a greater knowledge and appreciation for Christians working in the field of contemporary art and the unique contributions they continue to make to the ongoing arts discussion.鈥�
Among the speakers for the conference are:
- Mary McCleary, Regent鈥檚 Professor of Art Emeritus at Stephen F. Austin State University.
- Nigel Goodwin, founder of the London Arts Centre Group and executive director of Genesis Arts Trust, a ministry committed to serving the needs of Christian artists throughout the world.
- Daniel A. Siedell, assistant professor of modern and contemporary art history, theory and criticism at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
- Michael Card, recording artist and author.
- Paul Shockley, associate professor of Bible and theology at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston, Texas.
- David Taylor, former arts minister at Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas, and editor of the book 鈥淔or the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts.鈥�
Other speakers include Alice Hardin, Michael Winters, Lee Benson, Haelim Allen, Taylor Worley, Wayne Adams, Melinda Eckley Posey, Christopher Nadaskay and Halla.
Cost for the conference is $40 for professional or $20 for students, and includes one meal. Registration deadline is March 25.
More information, including a full conference schedule, speaker biographies and online registration, is available at .