Faith and Creativity

Friendship

Beginning in 2023, artist Suman Kaur and theologian Andrew Grinnell began a partnership exploring the theme of friendship in the city. Suman is Sikh by background, and was interested in exploring Christian theology with fresh eyes. Andrew’s academic background is in theology of justice and marginalisation.

The Way Up Is Down

The 2021 Arts and Theology Bursary was awarded to artist Leon Varga and theologian Christine Sharpe. 

Christine’s academic studies focused on Religious Studies and during her years as a student, she also worked as a carer for a young person with special needs. She has a commitment to inclusion and accessibility, influenced by Catholic social teaching. 

“I am delighted to have been awarded the Leeds Church Institute’s Art and Theology bursary 2021. I have been in Leeds for four years, having completed my Theology and Religious Studies degree at the University of Leeds in 2020. Throughout my time at university, I have been a student ambassador, course representative, and a personal assistant to a young person with learning difficulties. This prompted my interest in accessibility and inclusion, across all forms of life. I am not sure of the ultimate form of this project, but I know these ideas will be at the heart of it, all contextualised within the beautiful city of Leeds. I can’t wait to see where it goes!”
Christine Sharpe

Leon Varga is Hungarian and describes himself as having grown up under ‘Goulash Socialism’; he has been settled in Leeds for well over a decade. Leon has degrees in Fine Art from Budapest and an MA from Leeds Beckett University. He has worked as an artist and exhibited for twenty years. Leon was also a co-founder of Seagulls, a community arts project based in Holbeck.

 House of Questions

Leeds Church Institute (LCI) appointed visual artist Phill Hopkins and community theologian Dr Charlotte Naylor Davis early in 2020 to create visual art and theology resources for the city of Leeds.  The culmination of this project was the ‘House of Questions’ exhibition, postponed from 2020, which took place in July 2021 at the Church of the Epiphany, Leeds. 

At the heart of the installation was the question, “If you could ask one question of God or about religion, what would it be?”  It is an immersive and engaging experience which encourages you to find your way to respond to the question.  To find out more, view Phill’s Instagram and Phill’s short film telling the story of the development of House of Questions .  

In a special edition Winter CITYtheology, Charlotte reflects in some depth on the role of questions and questioning, inviting us to encounter the tension between what we believe and what we are experiencing. It draws on questions asked by Leeds people, and includes church responses to Black Lives Matter, as well as illness and suffering during the pandemic.

“Leeds has become my home and I am delighted to have the opportunity to explore its culture theologically. I have an interest in the ability of art to tell hidden stories, to pluck sacred moments out of chaos or violence, to focus us in our experience. These are the things I would like to explore in artistic collaboration.”
Dr Charlotte Naylor Davis

“I am personally committed to enriching the life of the city of Leeds. My art practice promotes reflection around issues such as truth, identity and belonging and is rooted in playful risk taking and exploration.”
Phill Hopkins

About the Bursary

LCI launched this bursary to two individuals, one artist and one theologian, to support excellence and experimentation in the fields of theology and visual arts as part of our wider work and mission.  The Centre for Religion and Public Life at the University of Leeds offered the pairing an opportunity to engage in critical conversations about theology and art in the city.

“The vision for this bursary is a shared artistic and reflective engagement with faith, spirituality and city life in Leeds. I am really excited about this collaboration which I am confident will support people of Leeds in delighting in the art as well as thinking about justice and spirituality.”
Dr Helen Reid, LCI Director

 The image at the top of the page is from the House of Questions exhibition.