Gallery and arts program clarifies vision, builds capacity, and hosts art exhibitions

From June through August, The Art of Justice: Building Beautiful Community at Washington City Church of the Brethren made meaningful progress in developing the strategic vision for WCCOB’s art gallery, identified leadership, and built community relationships needed to grow the gallery’s work, and hosted exhibits. This process included interviewing members of the congregation, friends of WCCOB, peace and policy experts, conflict resolution practitioners, and artists to help shape a strategic vision for the gallery and its role in connecting spirituality, art, peace and justice through open dialogue. Board members board members were identified and called who are deeply invested in this vision and committed to helping build the gallery community. Two exhibitions were hosted and curated. The Drawing Hope exhibition, Children’s Art from Conflict Affected countries around the world opened in September. Each exhibition included an opening panel featuring experts that deepened the conversation around our chosen themes. Interest has been growing in the gallery and its work and have actively engaged artists and arts organizations, new relationships built for potential collaboration.

One important lesson learned through this period is that sustaining and growing this work will require dedicated, full-time staff capacity. The work involved in building the gallery extends well beyond curating exhibitions and includes advertising and social media, tracking RSVPs and communicating with participants, arranging meetings, coordinating artists and panelists, managing the many logistical details of curation and exhibitions, and organizing our community gatherings, including food and refreshments. While it was initially anticipated that much of this work could be carried through existing capacity and volunteer leadership, experience has made clear that a full-time person dedicated to the gallery will be essential to carry the work forward in a sustained and effective way.