Have you ever noticed that the fields of film, theatre, and drama production seem to be dominated by the secular world?
Shouldn’t those of us who know Christ be engaged in these forms of art in order to communicate His message?
Well, that’s exactly what the Academy of Arts Christian Conservatory is trying to do:
Based in Taylors, South Carolina, the Academy of Arts Christian Conservatory was founded in 1974 to “instruct young people through practical training” in the creative and dramatic arts.
It’s a place where talented Christian artists from across the country can come to practice their crafts and learn valuable skills that will prepare them for God-honoring careers in the fields of film, theatre, literature, and drama production.
“First and foremost, the Academy of Arts desires to train up men and women not to succeed by the world’s standards of money and power but to discover, sharpen, and use their God-given talents for the glory of the God who granted them,” writes the Conservatory.
“The goal of every production… is to honor Christ and present the message of the Gospel,” the Conservatory continues.
Faculty and staff at the Conservatory recognize that all gifts, talents, and communication skills come from God, and they do their best to teach students how to turn those skills and gifts back to God for the furthering of His kingdom.
Students at the Conservatory are trained in oral interpretation, prop use, costume development, makeup and hair techniques, stage lighting technologies, dance, and more.
“You will gain experience in classes, in live performances at the Logos Theatre, in hours of backstage work in the theatre… and audio recording,” says the Conservatory.
Faculty and staff at the Conservatory are experts in their fields who pass on valuable experience and skills.
In addition, the curriculum is rigorous, laying the groundwork for success in a variety of fields.
Students attend “block classes,” which run several hours a day for a few weeks at a time in order to immerse them in technical and artistic skills.
The highlight of the Conservatory, though, is the Logos Theatre.
This beautiful performance space is home to multiple productions each season. Each performance is carefully chosen and produced to further the kingdom of God.
“Audiences can attend the Logos Theatre with confidence that they will see a professional production with an uplifting message,” writes the organization.
“These productions are not done simply to entertain the public, but also incorporate the community as actors, volunteers… and much more.”
Recent productions in the Logos Theatre include Our Town (Thornton Wilder), A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens), and Lions of Trondheim (Jim Potter).
The Logos Theatre’s upcoming season will feature productions of God Meant It for Good, a play about the life of Joseph, and An Evening with C.S. Lewis.
The Conservatory is passionate about “using the arts to reach the world.”
To that end, the organization also runs a summer drama ministry program that tours across the country each summer, bringing Christ-centered theatre productions to churches and other places.
Young people from around the country come to the Conservatory to receive training in the arts and in ministry before dispersing into different groups for a touring schedule.
It’s a transformative experience for many artistically-minded young people. They learn valuable lessons about theatre and performance, but the focus is always on Christ and how they can use their gifts to serve Him.
When on tour, the drama groups present God-honoring plays and performances at four to six locations each week. It’s a busy several weeks on the road, but the performers love the chance to share their gifts—and the Gospel—at each stop.
In a world where the artistic community is often viewed as anti-spiritual or anti-religious, the Conservatory strives to connect artistic practice and faith in concrete ways so that Christians are inspired to use creativity for Christ.
Everything the Academy of the Arts Christian Conservatory does is meant “to make the Bible come alive” and to make Christ real to audiences.
“The Lord has enabled us to see thousands of lives changed as we properly use these communicative arts to give out the uncompromising truth in a creative and exciting way,” shares the Conservatory.
The ministry plans to continue its outreach through art for as long as God continues opening doors! To learn more about the Conservatory, click here. For a season schedule of the Logos Theatre, visit the theatre’s website.
