HopeArts Reboot, August 2008 Meeting

On Monday evening, August 11, we had our second HopeArts meal and discussion as we continue to “think together” what HopeArts can be in this new season. Our goals are to continue answering the following two questions:

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What should the goals of HopeArts be?

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What are we, as individuals and a group, gifted and called to do to accomplish these goals?

The following items were addressed and/or discussed in the meeting:

1. The fall Prospectus for the “hope” themed exhibit, 8MM, and writing thingamajig is now available, in print, at church, and on the website – dive in! This prospectus includes guidelines for three different types of submissions:

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Visual Arts (including three-dimensional work – we now have pedestals)

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Literary Arts – can be included on the website, as part of the visual arts exhibit, and/or as readings during 8 Minutes Max.

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Performing Arts – 8 Minutes Max is scheduled for October 11. One change is that you must now submit an entry form before the event.

Note

: the deadline for Visual Arts entries, Literary Arts entries, and 8MM entry forms is September 28.

2. The calendar for seasonal events this year is under review. The long-term goal is to have the themes for the year decided and communicated before each new year of events begins (before September). Another goal is to have these themes better coordinated with the life of Hope Chapel, with sermon series, church activities, etc.

3. The HopeArts Website is current and active, so be sure to thank Kate Van Dyke for keeping up with this. Use it as a resource, check the calendar frequently, send in any calendar entries for events you find out about, and comment on the blog.

4. In an effort to connect the life of HopeArts better with the life of Hope Chapel, we hope to plan a time in the next few months for the artists and the elders to get together to meet and get to know one another.

5. We reviewed the ideas that we came up with together in July’s meeting and some thoughts about the link between connecting with others and serving others.

6. The leadership structure for HopeArts is still under consideration, but here is our current plan for the two types of groups that would make things happen:

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An Arts Councily Thingy (currently Jack Dorman, Wendy Dooldeniya, Rick Van Dyke and Kelly Foster) would oversee the overall coordination, planning, and pastoring of HopeArts. This group is likely to stay fairly small to help keep it focused and to allow more people to be involved in more specific leadership teams.

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Task-, Issue-, or Event-Related Teams would each have a specific focus such as ‘Visual Arts Exhibits’ or ‘Communication’ or ‘Special Services’. As people are interested and excited about particular kinds of activities, our goal will be to provide these kinds of opportunities to serve.

We are still listening to find out what people want to happen, who feels called to serve, what elements of HopeArts are not currently being covered in our current leadership team. Continue to pray for HopeArts and ask for direction and discernment for your role in it. And let Jack, Wendy, Rick or Kelly know what your hear. Any ideas for names for these two types of groups would be much appreciated as well.

7. It was asked if there would be a HopeArts Festival this coming summer. There has been no determination yet, but planning would need to begin very soon if the answer is yes. The festival requires a lot of commitment by a lot of people. So pray, listen, consider, and let us know what you think.

8. We played a quick game of HopeArts Bingo as an unconventional way of brainstorming and getting broad input into the kinds of activities people are interested in making happen. The input we got should be quite useful and is being reviewed and analyzed.

9. Count on the second Monday of each month for HopeArts gatherings. Watch for more details concerning our September 8 get-together.

Kelly Foster