academic initiatives
TTA's current academic initiatives are based at St Mary's College, University of St Andrews, where Jeremy Begbie is an Honorary Professor in theology.
It is part of a major research unit - the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts (ITIA).
Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts
The overall objective is to discover and demonstrate how the arts can advance and enrich theology with particular attention to the Universities and the communities they serve. More specifically:
- to develop and demonstrate different forms of 'theology through the arts' in a rigorous academic setting
- to develop a critical account of the discipline of 'theology through the arts' in relation to other disciplines, theological and non-theological
colloquia
To meet these objectives, TTA has established two international research colloquia of distinguished scholars in 'theology through the arts', one working on music, the other on architecture/the 'built environment'.
- The music colloquium had its first meeting in Ely, Cambridgeshire in January 2002. Its second was held in January 2004. A substantial collection of essays will appear in 2007, published by Eerdmans.
- The built environment colloquium had its first meeting in Calvin College, Michigan in September, 2002. It met again in May 2004.
These colloquia are being generously supported by, and set up in co-operation with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Discussions are under way about a third colloquium, on film and theology.
other activities
TTA is also promoting:-
- a burgeoning group of postgraduate research students at St Andrews
- working on theology/arts themes publishing projects, including material arising out of the research colloquia
- a visiting professorship scheme
- taught postgraduate programmes, both at St Andrews and at linked international institutions
To find out more about the ongoing work at St Andrews, please go straight to the website: Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts.
> See also: