A response to Dr. Smith

If *Dr. Smith's statements accurate, they raise a few questions for artists.

What kind of space best promotes **creativity? How can an educational institution, a church, a city, or if it's even possible, a business develop spaces where art naturally happens? Basically, how can we as a society, and more specifically to this context, a Christian community provide you the freedom to create?

While the arts keep us in touch with the transcendent, we still need to ask, "What are your career goals?" Not to be pragmatic or anything, but hey, you need to eat. A house is always nice. Artists, how will you avoid being "the starving artist?"

These questions carry some implications for society at large.

How will you value the arts? You could appreciate them and walk away. You could also actively make choices that will strongly encourage artists to create. You'll likely need to talk to artists about the answers to the questions above to find out how you can best do that.

How will you respond to the artist who is suddenly "struck" with a new concept and appears just a bit eccentric as she dances down the street with a new interpretation of a piece? Will you catch up to her later and tell her it was beautiful and ask her about it?

When you see art in the market place, what are you willing to pay for it? Making something new is exhilarating and exhausting. It takes hours of vulnerable emotions, hard work and sometimes frustration. How will you compensate them for providing for some of your heart's needs through art? Most artists don't ask society to always "get it." They would like to be recognized as a deeply valuable part of culture and be given the freedom to be who they are. Oh, and yeah, they might need money.

And finally, a word to the artist again. These questions address the ideal. Most artists will never make a single nickel from their work. You will meet people who will not appreciate what you do. Create anyway. Find another job if you need to, but create. A world that sometimes seems to be blowing apart needs the refuge of art. Provide that place of rest. As you do, find your own place of rest. Be fed. Be healed. Be at peace in the presence of your Creator. He freely gave you this wonderful gift. Offer that gift to others, because the very nature of the arts is that they are for your audience.

*Dr. Gordon T. Smith is the president of Ambrose University College in Calgary.
**The words "create" and "creativity" are used primarily in the artistic sense, recognizing that there is only One who truly "creates" from nothing. He is God the Creator.