Dear friends,

As another school year comes to a close, we have much to celebrate as we reflect on all the things the Center for Spirituality and the Arts has accomplished. We believe strongly in the power of communal collaboration, which is why we are so pleased to announce that as of this month, we now have seven teaching artists/practitioners, serving as a studio home to six musical and/or visual artists! As we continue living into our mission, we envision a year ahead of exciting new opportunities for groups and individuals to explore their creative spark with the talents of many represented here, including digital music production, piano and guitar lessons, yoga and Reiki sessions, and communal murals! Meet our artists and learn more about the brilliant things they’re doing in the world.

There are currently three piano students receiving full scholarships and one student receiving partial scholarship.

They are each are making progress and benefiting from weekly music lessons with Nate and Ben. Both Teachers are currently donating their time at an estimated total value of $1,900 since the start to this year. We look forward to ultimately securing our goal of compensating our teachers monetarily. We're incredibly grateful in the meantime for the time donated by these teachers as it allows us to serve families in need. Read more stories about the families we are serving through our scholarship program.

Our last exciting announcement to share is a project with which we need your help. With thanks to the creative minds of artists Tori Fields and Mindy Barker, we are launching a campaign to fund a re-design of the common areas that house CSA in the Education Building on campus. Our hope is that this bright new vision for the hallways and stairwell leading to the downstair studios will serve as a vibrant welcome to all, unleashing in students and artists a spirit of creativity and new life.  Learn more about this project and donate online. 

We are ecstatic about the tangible ways our artists are making a difference in the lives of children and youth, and for the new opportunities on the horizon we believe the Spirit has in store for this community. Got an idea? Interested in learning a new instrument? We’d love to hear from you! You can do so by contacting the director for the Center for Spirituality and the Arts, Ben Smith at [email protected].

Thank you all again for your continued support. Please stay tuned for more to come!

With joy and deep gratitude,

Benjamin Smith, Director, Center for Spirituality & the Arts

Rev. Doug Collins, Senior Minister, First Christian Church of Tacoma

www.fcctacoma.org

First Christian Church of Tacoma, 602 North Orchard Avenue, Tacoma, WA