European Arts Summit 10-14th May 2009
Schloss Mittersill, Austria

PURPOSE & CONTENT
Forty influential European arts leaders will convene at the inaugural European Arts Summit to be held at Schloss Mittersill, Mittersill, Austria from 10-14 May 2009.

There can be no doubt that we are at a significant and historic crossroads in what God is doing in, and through, the artist and the arts in Europe. This is not a time for business as usual. Rather, it is an opportunity to take more courageous steps, to dream bigger dreams and to embrace creative partnerships that will empower those visions.

The Summit will be a time for leading thinkers, leaders of Christian art ministries and arts practitioners in Europe to engage in a conversation on the role of the arts in cultural and spiritual renewal. It will encourage a transformative vision for artists working in the cultural marketplace, the church, in missions and in the academy-through a combination of arts education institutes, culture making initiatives, innovative partnerships and shared resources.

By working together, we can make a greater impact than if we operated in isolation from one another. Through collaborative relationships, fresh and innovative ideas can be generated, resources shared and stewarded more efficiently, the impact for the kingdom of God multiplied and the unity of the Body of Christ demonstrated.

The four key days will be focussed as follows:

Day 1, The Church - Defining the current problem. Where do we want it to be culturally and in transformation and renaissance in the years to come?
Day 2, The Artist – Insecurity, community and discipling. What stones need removing in the lives of artists to help them be transformational?
Day 3, The Culture - What has prevented us as Christians being renaissance people?
Day 4, Next Steps Project - Focus groups devise Mission Statements and the next three steps as it relates to their topic and context.

There will be a mixture of both interdisciplinary and focus group guided discussions, reflecting on the morning message and ending each day with feedback, conclusions and discussion.

We will be looking for practical outcomes, real solutions and activities, Institutes and initiatives, training and education and culture making initiatives. We need to work out how we partner together and agree on who is doing what in Europe. The aim is to inspire ongoing activity – this is not the end!

This event is a collaboration between five key organisations involved in the arts in Europe and globally: StoneWorks, Creative Arts Europe, Crescendo, Arts+ and Schloss Mittersill.

Keynote Speaker:
International Director of StoneWorks, Dr Colin Harbinson has been engaged in the world of the arts, missions and academia for over 40 years and is recognised around the world as a leader and a pioneer. He created the stage productions Toymaker and Son and Dayuma, and directed arts festivals in Russia, Bulgaria and China. Until recently he was the Dean of the arts at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, and editor of the Creative Spirit journal. Colin was the convener for the Lausanne Occasional Paper— Redeeming the Arts. www.colinharbinson.com

Location:
Schloss Mittersill, which is close to Kitzbühel and between Salzburg and Innsbruck is hosting the summit in its’ historic 16th Century castle in the Austrian Alps at Mittersill, A-5730, Austria. www.schlossmittersill.org

Enquiries:
Heather Baker
Schloss Mittersill
Mittersill
A-5730
Austria
e-mail: heatherbaker@schlossmittersill.org
telephone: +43 (0) 6562 4523 (57)
fax : +43 (0) 6562 4523 50

SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS

StoneWorks: is a global arts partnership established to help prepare the way for the emerging generation of Christians involved in the arts, and to see the arts and the imagination celebrated in the life and mission of the church and its individual members.
As a catalyst to bring together Christian leaders, innovators and culture makers from the spheres of the church, marketplace, education and missions, the European Arts Summit seeks to facilitate partnerships and the sharing of resources for the task of culture formation and cultural reformation. www.stoneworks-arts.org

Creative Arts Europe: "Creative Arts Europe aspires to permeate European culture with
art that offers hope and life." Creative Arts Europe (CAE) is a network of artists & art lovers who aspire to enrich their society through the arts. Our Staff are from a diverse array of backgrounds and recognise the significance and value of the arts in culture. We have a concern for artists and their well being and are committed to investing in the next generation of young people, helping them to embrace their significance as history makers of tomorrow... www.creativeartseurope.org

Crescendo: Music is an international language, understood beyond geographical boundaries. Musicians and other artists are forerunners of new cultural trends. They play an important role in conveying values and serving as role models for young people. Crescendo is an interdenominational Christian organisation working among classical professional musicians and music students. www.crescendo.org

Main goals and activities are:

• to network classical musicians who have similar interests
• to encourage classical musicians in professional life and faith
• to communicate faith in many different ways, making Christian accents in our society through the arts
• to serve churches, Christian ministries and other Christian organizations for artists and musicians

Arts Plus: The culture platform Arts+ engages in cultural portrayal of the Christian faith in church and society.
A+ forms networks of Christian artists and is a platform for Christian inspired art production in Switzerland in line with legislation on the Promotion of Cultural Affairs. It also functions as a centre of competency in all matters of art and culture for the Swiss Evangelical Alliance and is part of the international working committee of ‘Hope for Europe’ which links Christian initiatives in various areas of society.

Schloss Mittersill: Seeks to instigate a Christian renaissance in Europe by identifying and building a Christian avant garde—networks of culturally informed individuals active in the arts, education, business, politics, etc.—inspired and equipped to challenge society in light of the values of the Kingdom of God.
We create events that bring Christians together within and across affinity groups—including courses, conferences, retreats, symposia, and festivals—building networks of Christians who are transforming specific areas of culture, as well as encouraging a holistic understanding of faith, and building relationships between people engaged in different areas of culture.
Schloss Mittersill has been running an annual summer Arts Conference for eleven years, drawing together artists from all over Europe and beyond, for a week of teaching, support, performance and celebration. www.schlossmittersill.org