29.10.2024

Art, Church and Antiracism

Contributors and organizers of Creative Vibes after the event: bottom left Rebecca Fischer, top left Bente Ruge. Photo by: private

„It was a very mindful space full of love. It was created consciously calm, with a lot of space to let the impressions in slowly.” This is how Rebecca Fischer describes Creative Vibes on October 5, 2024 in the Youth Church of Hamm (Germany). She is Network Coordinator at the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) in Wuppertal (Germany). “As a Woman of Color personally I felt really well, in a space that I did cocreate, but most importantly was created for me. The shared attitude of the team gave a sense of calm and emotional safety to all of us.”

One whole day in Youth Church

In the Working Group Interfaith and Critical Race, UEM has joined hands with YMCA West Germany and UEM member church EKvW*. Together they created a space for awareness programs and to reflect Eurocentric perspectves and viewing habits. Part of the exhibition were, among other things, paintings of biblical stories, which – as opposed to most other German Bible paintings – didn’t feature white people as the main characters. Outside of the academic discourse on racism and its critique, arts like music, dance and spoken word served as transportation for the empowerment of People of Color.

Creative Vibes: That was a whole day full of programme in the Youth Church, a mixture between exhibition, artistic performances and workshops. The focus was on discrimination awareness, on reflecting and cracking viewing habits, in church spaces and in church practices.

The good atmosphere in the church also stayed with Bente Ruge, responsible for questions of principle and racism critique at the youth office of EKvW: “Creative Vibes was an event with a living room feeling. The artists’ performances were my absolute highlight of the day. Also I liked that we had enough time to talk during lunch and to go through the exhibition in the Youth Church. I am so glad and grateful that so many volunteers made this event possible!”

Artists giving their best

Rebecca Fischer is on fire for the artistic performances: “For all of us, it was fun to watch these folks, and we were like: You do you! And they were awesome! They performed really wonderful art, and we celebrated them for it, just beautiful.” One of her best moments was to take time for paintings with bible stories from African artists’ perspectives: “That was so, so strong empowerment! And then having time to process it: that was really special.”

In the future, she can imagine bringing Creative Vibes to other congregations, too. The exhibition exists now, and it can be reproduced in churches, youth houses and community centers. For Rebecca Fischer, that is one of the biggest opportunities in the future.

*EKvW = Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (Evangelical Church in Westphalia, Germany)