“Development” is a big topic, but we break it down in a concise and approachable way! We explore four categories of development (economic, community, human, and cultural) that enable us to think clearly, plan realistically, and act effectively in the face of great need and complexity of a community’s life. This includes discussion about how the arts interconnect with the United Nation’s official Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Christians have ranged widely in their thoughts and theology concerning development work. In this course, we make an historically informed case for a Jesus-centered approach that meaningfully blesses communities and holistically seeks opportunities for the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God.

The arts have already proven highly effective at improving the well-being of individuals and communities throughout the world! We provide many concrete examples of previous arts & culture development projects to develop a set of “best practices” which you can apply to your own work. This includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches to measuring and reporting the impact of your project on local communities.