Our Story

THE PARABLE KEEPER - 4 FRONT THEATRE

Dynamic young actors taking faith into 10 primary schools in Gloucestershire.

Fresh, energetic, gifted disciples …..inspire children, the future of our church and faith.

Care Home Residents also invited, love seeing the children engage so enthusiastically with Jesus’ Parables.

JOURNEY Travelling in Faith

Inside-Out
Mixed Media Show
25 May – 2 June 2024

The Hub Gallery, Christ Church. Malvern Road
Cheltenham GL50 2JH

Relish the Round-Up!  GOSPEL23

‘Very proud of the wonderful pioneering glorious Christian Arts Festival,’
Tudor Griffiths, Area Dean of Cheltenham (retired), 1st Chair of Christian Arts Festival

EAGA Gospel Choir Raises The Roof
at Cheltenham Town Hall!

‘The set from Prophecy Gospel Band from the Church of God of Prophecy, Gloucester, was energetic and their voices soared and harmonised. Every individual was filled with overflowing happiness that spilled into the audience, who after a shortwhile were up dancing!’  Juliia Lock, Glos Info

EAGA Gospel Choir were astonishing.

‘Fabulous evening of fun, song, dance and great fellowship.

What a glorious sound those lovely choirs made.  They sounded like angels.’
Lesley Dodwell, Purple Shoots

How encouraging to have the winning Gospel song composition (Helen Maynard Watts) sung by EAGA and then to see so many from the workshop join EAGA for a rendition of ‘O Happy Day!

‘Such energy. Such talent. A privilege to be taught by choir director Jordan Anderson and huge generosity of spirit from the choir to welcome a collaborative performance.  Unforgettable.’  besaltbaked, Instagram

Dai Woolridge, a renowned poet, who has written pieces for the Welsh Rugby Union. His spoken words were smattered with delightfully funny and warm stories of life.

The Holy Spirit was gushing though Donna Howells from the Warehouse Church, Newport, the radiant compere who passionately shared her love of the Gospels..

Literature Day @ Pip and Jim’s Church

‘We’re facing challenging times in the Church and have to re-learn not to ‘despise the day of small things.’  This kind of imaginative festival is very much worth persisting with. It ‘tells all the truth but it tells it slant,’coming into the gospel from other directions. Really important in today’s sceptical culture.’

Rt Rev John Pritchard

‘I am writing to express my heartfelt thanks for all you organised, enabled and held regarding the recent Christian Arts Festival.  I was delighted to be part of the Literature Day.’  Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester

‘Thank you SO, SO much for the treasure trove of speakers and events last Saturday and Sunday. All so very life enhancing.’  Attendee

FESTIVAL OF STARS 2022

Pavilion Sports Field, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham

10 September 2022

Here’s the video… see the smile on everyone’s faces!!

https://vimeo.com/756120043

ART EXTRAVAGANZA & DEMOS

THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE

Pitville Park, Cheltenham  18 June 2022

Supported by Arts Council Engand award through Gloucester Community Foundation
with partners: Art Shape, Cheltenham Education Partnership, Heart Heroes and LivingfromArt.com

RESTORING EDEN 2022
The Garden’s Gallery, Cheltenham

Art Extravaganza & Art Demos

Cheltenham Open Studios 2021 The Hub Gallery, Christ Church

Festival of Stars, Whaddon 11 September 2021

EVENTS IN AN AGE OF PANDEMIC

We continue to provide events: performance, competitions and workshops with long term impact in all the arts – to build on what has been achieved in the past 6 years. Our current theme EDEN Restoring Paradise, will be followed by GOSPEL 2023.  We strive to excite new people and young people, connecting them to sports clubs, activities & small groups, inspiring a love of the Gospels and showcasing courageous ways of worship e.g. gospel song writing, visual arts and performance etc.

The pandemic has enabled us to reach online audiences, resulting in wide coverage national and international, flexibility and longevity as witnessed through our Living Room Fest 2020, Inspires Sessions and Octopus creative workshops in 2021.  We intend to continue using technological advances to extend our reach.

  • March 2020 Willow Lantern Making workshops live & online YouTube
  • May 2020 Living Room Festival for Adults and Children
  • December 2020 EDEN, Restoring Paradise Art Competition (Judges: Bishop Rachel, PJ Crook) & Exhibition, Garden’s Gallery
  • February 2021 CAF film of Poetry & Art Christian Artists ‘Speaking Up’ for International Festival Versopolis
  • February 2021 Women at the Well Gloucestershire Women Interfaith Craft Project
  • April – August 2021 Octopus and Inspire Workshops 2021 Youtube videos online: Brush Lettering, Mono-Print, Charcoal Drawing, Circus Skills, Optical Illusions, Worship Song-Writing, Women at the Well Interfaith craft project with Gloucestershire Women, Graffiti/Illustration
  • April 2021 Music in the Park, Cheltenham
  • April 2021 Sermon Slam National
  • May 2021 Art Extravaganza in the Park, Cheltenham
  • May 2021 Comedians in the Park (Cancelled Covid Restrictions)
  • May 2021 De-Stresstival at Uni of Glos – lunch-time music recitals
  • Festival of Stars, Whaddon Saturday 11 September 2021 + Dog Show (rescheduled 4 times)
  • September 2021 Claudette Douglas, Black Blessed and British, live and live streamed
  • September 2021 Christian Artists Group part of Cheltenham Open Studios
  • September 2021 Textile Banner Project (COP 26) Cheltenham Heritage Open Days and Cheltenham Open Studios, Bath, Nature in Art, Twigworth, Glos.  Other venues to confirm dates for 2022/23

 

Living Room Fest!  May 2021

An online celebration of music and the arts with streams for grown ups and under 12s with 30 contributors including Singer-Songwriters, Gospel Choirs, Comedians, Visual Artists, Science Magician and Theatre Companies.  There were over 2,300 views and we raised £3,000 through a Crowdfunder page for our contributors facing uncertain futures with many cancelled tours, performances and exhibitions

Festival Feast and the Future
23 April – 12 May 2019
Feast your eyes on the many Encounters!!
The joy of life in all its fullness through
Music, Art, Comedy, Drama, Dance and Film

84 + EVENTS in 44 VENUES

Thank you to everyone who supported us with sponsorship, hosting events, performing, painting, leading workshops, stewarding, refreshments, driving, brochure distribution, donations, buying tickets, leaving comments and telling friends and neighbours about the Festival.

So we can  provide even better festivals in the future, do send us feedback of your encounters during the festival – nikki@christianartsfestival.org

Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir Finale Encounters 2019

Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies’ College

‘Wow! What an evening! Thank you so much for inviting me along to such a fabulous concert. I really enjoyed the performance. Congratulations on a hugely successful event! ‘ Alex Chalk MP

Elim Sound with Sam Blake

Extremely popular up-beat Worship Concert thrilling for all attendees – witnessing prophetic art also and young people got the opportunity to take up a paint brush and make their own mark.

 

Sermon Slam 2019

The Sermon Slam was won by Paul Chesworth in 2019 – the calibre of entries gets better every year since it’s inauguration in 2016 – an event not to be missed in the future.  BBC Presenter Richard Atkins is still hoping to win!

No Abiding City

Bishop Rachel welcomed Bishop Michael Lewis from Jerusalem and designate for the Middle East for his thought-provoking event ‘No Abiding City.’
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Festival of Stars 2018

 

The LIVE open air Music and Comedy Festival invited the whole community to take part with an Open the Mic Competition, #StarFest of the Day, iSingPOP with Christ Church School, Tom Elliott Comedian and Magician, Out of the Ashes, Gloucester Gospel Choir, The Hawthorns and  a Graffiti Wall workshop for young people.  The headline act The Strays invited children and young people at the end of their set to dance with them on stage under the stars.  For some, making memories of their 1st Festival when they performed on stage may well inspire them to perform in the future!  Little residents from neighbouring houses were seen peeking through their curtains to take a look itching to take part !


Our Story

by | May 3, 2016 |