Sacred Art Network past events 2021-22
Throughout the course of the Crossing Borders season of events, the two sacred art networks have gathered in specialist symposia as well as events for the public. The 2021–22 events, including programmes and speaker biographies, can be found below.
3 November 2021 | London Interfaith Sacred Art Symposium
This event brought together a cohort of 12 people from Jewish, Muslim and Christian backgrounds to share sacred texts - from Rumi's poetry and the Quran to Christina Rossetti and the Talmud. Participants included Fatimah Ashrif (Randeree Charitable Trust), Deborah Kahn-Harris (Leo Baeck College), and Jarel Robinson-Brown (St Botolph's-without-Aldgate Church).
Download the programme, texts and refelctions, and speaker biographies [PDF]
18 May 2022 | Sacred Art in Collections pre-1900 Symposium
Approximately 100 curators and art historians participated in this event, which focused on research, resources, and strategies for interpreting and exhibiting sacred art. Papers included Lucy Dahlsen on the British Museum's exhibition Feminine Power: The Divine to the Demonic, Thomas Ardill on the development of the new Faith Galleries at the Museum of London, and Ben Quash on the Visual Commentary on Scripture.
Download the paper summaries and speaker biographies [PDF]
15 June 2022 | Interfaith Sacred Art Seminar
This online event brought approximately 40 people together for three presentations on architecture, poetry, and visual art delivered by Shahed Saleem (Architect, University of Westminster), Aviva Dautch (Poet and Editor, Jewish Renaissance Magazine), and Mary Gregory (Canon for Arts and Reconciliation, Coventry Cathedral). Exploring topics including migration, translation, conflict, and liberation, the international range of participants included Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Buddhist theologians and faith leaders.
8 September 2022 | Crossing Borders Public Event
This in-person and online event for the general public celebrated the Crossing Borders theme and the inaugural year of the sacred art networks. It featured the premiere of a film featuring diverse voices exploring Orazio Gentileschi's 'The Finding of Moses', the launch of the Divine Dialogues website showcasing short films by theologians and curators, a presentation on our Take One Picture programme with schools and young people, and a panel discussion with network members on topics ranging from Kehinde Wiley's stained glass to Jewish feminist theology.
Watch 'A closer look at 'The Finding of Moses''
Watch the Divine Dialogues films
30 September 2022 | Unexpected Views: Crossing Borders
This in-person event during a Friday Late programme featured Ayla Lepine in conversation with the conceptual artist Alketa Xhafa Mripa. The Crossing Borders theme was explored through Artemisia Gentileschi's painting 'Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria' (about 1615-17). Xhafa Mripa is one of Kosovo's most influential voices through her art and activism, particularly in relation to women's rights.