Crossroads

Art and Religion in American Life

Session Designer: Ellen Holtzman, The Henry Luce Foundation

Media reports give the impression that religion is constantly at odds with the arts in American life. But recent case studies and interviews with arts and religious leaders have indicated that there is more cooperation and less antagonism between the two sectors than is commonly reported. This session will be based on a seven-year Luce Foundation project involving commissioned research, convening, community initiatives, and the recent book Crossroads: Art and Religion in American Life, co-published with the Center for Arts and Culture. This project addresses two fundamental questions; what binds the arts and religion to each other and what drives them apart. Discussants will focus on research findings that include an analysis of Americans' attitudes towards the arts and will suggest strategies and opportunities for coalition-building between arts and religious organizations.

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