Getting creative with Jason Simmonds
Getting creative with Jason Simmonds
10 February 2023
Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane, shares at the National Creative Arts Camp in January. A live stream of the recorded presentations from NCAC will go live from The Salvation Army Worship Arts Australia Youtube Channel this Sunday 12 February 7PM AEDT at https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSalvationArmyWorshipArtsAustralia
Youth and young adults gathered in January for National Creative Arts Camp, north of Sydney, to grow and develop in their ministry through music and the creative arts. Worship Arts Community Engagement Coordinator Jason Simmonds talks about how the national event allows creatives to share their faith journeys and encourages creativity in ministry and mission in local corps.
Worship Arts Community Engagement Coordinator Jason Simmonds.
Over 80 creatives attended the camp at Milson Island Sport and Recreation Centre from 15-20 January. There have been many camps over the years; what difference does something like this make for young creatives in The Salvation Army?
Jason: This unique arts engagement event nurtures the heart, soul and faith of young creatives passionate about their art form from across the territory, identifying and developing leaders within The Salvation Army’s creative community. The real power of NCAC is its reach beyond the peak experience of the camp by strengthening pathways for creatives to serve their local communities through their art forms, as well as creating ongoing resources that can be used across the territory. The camp theme of ‘Hope Revealed’ threaded its way through the presentations, spiritual moments, corporate worship, and community-building opportunities. This inaugural national event represented a unique opportunity to collaborate with like-minded creatives from across the country to move their art form from an interest to a passion.
Creative Arts Camp provides an environment that encourages a passion for the arts and quality experiences for Salvo creatives to practise their craft. Young people chose from streams at the event, including band, dance, music team, production, visual arts, theatre making, music theatre, big band, choir, photography and spoken word. How do you partner faith with creativity, and what outcomes come from that?
Jason: The focus of NCAC 2023 was three-fold and aligned to the Worship Arts National strategy; Creator: through focused worship, life group gatherings and personal reflection. Community: forged through social activities, recreation and free time. Craft: honing skills through participation in high-quality music and creative arts experiences. The NCAC experience had an emphasis on music and creative arts for delegates with an interest in becoming their ‘creative best’. NCAC provides opportunities to collaborate with leaders and other delegates to create recorded Worship Arts resources for use across the territory.
Who was part of NCAC this year, and where do they come from?
Jason: The inaugural National Creative Arts Camp brought together creatives including young people, young adults and leaders from across the territory, ages 15-30 years, passionate about the arts. NCAC provided an opportunity for delegates to develop their craft, encounter their creator and encourage one another as part of a creative community within The Salvation Army. With representative delegates from each state across Australia, this was a unique opportunity for artists, musicians, and creatives to interact, collaborate and create. With spiritual leadership from the head of Mission Support, Major Matt Reeve, and the Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane, delegates left the camp spiritually invigorated, challenged and equipped to serve more effectively in their local faith contexts.
A live stream of the recorded presentations from NCAC will go live from The Salvation Army Worship Arts Australia Youtube Channel this Sunday 12 February 7PM AEDT at https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSalvationArmyWorshipArtsAustralia
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