“Art helps us see the world not as it is, but as it ought to be.” — Makoto Fujimura
Since the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022, Ukraine has faced staggering devastation—cities reduced to rubble, families displaced, education systems erased, churches scattered. Millions have fled their homes; many more remain in war zones with limited access to food, shelter, training, or medical care. Many Ukrainian families have been displaced to our local area, and have confirmed the need there is urgent, both physically and spiritually.
We believe that Scripture reveals that God-inspired beauty, coupled with action, can restore.
In response to this crisis, Browncroft has partnered with the Forefront Artist Circle to commission fifteen talented local artists to host a one-night event that hopes to transform creativity into compassion. On Friday, June 6th at 6:30pm, you are invited to Art for Ukraine, a gallery and performance coffeehouse event in the Browncroft Café, featuring original works of painting, woodworking, photography, poetry, and music, as well as coffee, tea, and desserts.
Each artistic piece created for the event is inspired by the beauty, resilience, and faith of the Ukrainian people. Throughout the night, these works will be available in a silent auction, with 100% of proceeds going to the Guardians of Hope Ukrainian Relief Project—a Christian ministry providing humanitarian aid, church planting support, and spiritual care in some of Ukraine’s most desperate regions. We believe with the generous help of our church community, we can present a sizable and powerful gift to the teams heading to Ukraine in the near future. Church, we’d love you to be a part in that!
Art has the power to inspire, communicate, move hearts, awaken empathy, and spark generosity.
This night is more than a simple fundraiser, however—it’s a call to discipleship and mission through a deeper theology of beauty. We understand art has the power to inspire, communicate, move hearts, awaken empathy, and spark generosity in ways practical words alone cannot – David sang poetry, the Presence of God resided once in an ornately designed tabernacle, Jesus chose primarily to teach in winsome parables – and created beings being involved in the act of creativity ourselves reminds us of the image of God in which we are made. It preaches to us His promise that in the face of destruction, restoration was always His plan.
This conviction lies at the heart of Forefront Festival, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit and longtime friend of Browncroft. Forefront is an explicitly Christian arts organization dedicated to equipping creators to make art in faithful participation with the Creator. Through events, workshops, and their Forefront 360 podcast, they help the Church rediscover beauty as a powerful force for renewal, worship, and healing. Art for Ukraine is part of a larger movement led by Forefront to nurture community among Christian creatives and to foster art that glorifies God and participates in the restoration of what is broken. We believe God can use this evening to stir hearts, lift eyes, and move hands to give. Come. Be inspired. Be moved. Be part of healing what is broken.
Please see more and RSVP at browncroft.org/art
