Arts discipleship in the heart of the Caucasus. Grow into the creative gospel minister God made you to be.

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VIDEO: The 5-Month Cohort

Discover what an “arts discipleship cohort” really is. Learn all about our program, and see our creative spaces— our recording studio, arts workshop, gallery and more.

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Program Details

5-Month Discipleship Residency 2027:
Cohort 5

The arts discipleship Cohort is a full-time, 5-month program for artists in missions. It includes:

  • Full access to facilities & group events

  • Weekly teaching on arts theology & ethno-arts

  • Arts-based devotionals

  • Book reflections & discussions

  • 1-on-1 artist mentoring

  • 1-week ethno-arts intensive training

  • Arts outreaches with local communities

  • 2–3 Short Courses included

Program Details

NUTS & BOLTS

  • The Unsung Arts Collective brings together arts + missions. We are looking for those who have both a genuine call to cross-cultural ministry—bringing the good news of Jesus to those who have never heard—and who have an artistic ambition, call, or gifting from God.

    Applicants should currently be pursuing, seriously considering, or in cross-cultural ministry. Applicants should also be practicing art in some way. We are generous on this point. You do not have to be a full-time or professional artist (though you may be). But it is also not suited for beginners.

    We are not an art school; we nurture and train you in the artistic call you are pursuing in God.

    We welcome applicants of any age or stage: singles, couples, families with children, or finishers in their retirement years!

    • 24-hour access to our facility including arts workshop (basic supplies included) with dedicated table space, gallery/performance space, recording studio and audio/video editing suite.

    • All books in your program,

    • Weekly teaching in theology of art.

    • Inclusion in ongoing arts gatherings such as gallery showings, art discussion groups, and outings.

    • Short Courses at no added charge.

      • SEMESTER COHORT: two to three 3-5 day courses

      • SEASONAL: one 3-5 day course

  • 2026

    SEMESTER COHORT 2026:

    • January 11 - May 29, 2026

    • 40 hours/week

    SEASONAL RESIDENCIES 2026:

    • Winter (4-week): February 14 - Mar 13, 2025

    • Spring (3-week): April 11 - May 1, 2025

    • 40 hours/week

  • Participants in our residential program live independently throughout the city. You are responsible for your own shopping, cooking, cleaning, and transportation. We can help you locate housing.

    Several times a week we meet at the UAC building for arts activities, teaching, and discussion. This facility also provides studio space for students to work on the portfolio aspect of the program.

  • Programs are tuition-based. Tuition covers all aspects of the program, including: 24/7 use of the arts space, basic supplies, classroom teaching, short courses, mentoring, coffee and tea, snacks, and group project transportation.

    Tuition does not cover transportation to/from Tbilisi or living expenses, including: room and board, utilities, daily transportation, entertainment, etc.

    2026 TUITIONS

    5-MONTH COHORT 2026: (5-month, full-time): USD $2,500

    SEASONAL RESIDENCIES 2026
    - Winter (4-week): USD $525
    - Spring (3-week): USD $395

STRUCTURE

  • Our 5-month Cohort divides into two parts:

    1. Our art

    2. Others’ art

    Our art. Art in missions begins with claiming—or for many of us, reclaiming—our identity as artists in the Lord. We spend the first half of the program unpacking our relationship to our own artistic gifts and calling, and how those gifts serve the grand redemptive work of God in the world. This involves a few key parts

    • Teaching. Weekly teaching helps lay solid theological foundations of what it means to be a creator making “art for God’s sake”

    • Formation. We also engage in a Christ-centered process of creative recovery based in part on Julie Cameron’s The Artist’s Way involving selected readings, daily journaling, a survey of influences in our artistic journey, regular arts exercises, and weekly small group meetings for processing.

    • Creation. Finally, we commit to weekly studio hours in which we devote 15-20 hours/week in personal studio time. This culminates in dedicated mis-semester Portfolio Project exhibition featuring you, our artists in residence!

    Your week consists of:

    • Arts with God: an arts-based time of worship

    • Teaching: Weekly teaching in arts and theology

    • The Artist’s Way: Meeting for arts formation

    • Book Talk: Discuss assigned readings

    • Check-ins: Give and take feedback, input, and encouragement in your own arts project process

    Others’ art. Art in missions cannot be limited to our own artistic expression; its heart lies in connecting with through their arts for Kingdom gain. In the second half of the program we turn to focus on others’ arts and how we can successfully cross over to connect with them. This is the domain of “ethno-arts” or “ethnodoxology.” It includes:

    • Arts for the Kingdom. This accredited 1-week ethnoarts intensive is taught by a trained team of ethnoarts professionals flown in especially for the course.

    • Skills training. Our weekly teachings ramp up here with a full menu of practical arts-based field skills.

    • Local arts. Most exciting, we work locally on a 6-8 week community arts project.

    In this segment, the schedule may be fluid or changing to accommodate our community project.

  • The seasonal residencies are a time for investing in your creative call in a nurturing community.

    Your week consists of:

    • Arts with God: an arts-based time of worship

    • Teaching: Join in with the Cohort for weekly teaching

    • Check-ins: Meet up weekly for process and feedback in your own arts project

    Plus you are included in one 3-day short-course! This year’s offerings:

  • Artists need time and s p a c e to create. This programs helps create that for you.

    Every artist is allotted space to work on their art. Every week you are required to spend time on a project which will run the length of the session and which will be shown/shared at the end of the session.

  • The best discussions happen over food. Weekly we open up Dessert & Discussion to the wider community: a time to discuss matters of art in a faith context. We consider a text together (podcast, blog, article, etc.) and to process together and think, maybe to disagree, and always to listen. Sometimes special guests are present to enrich the conversation.

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