Sacred Arts Trust

Sacred Arts_Web

The Sacred Arts Trust was established in 1994 by the Rev. Canon Dr. Graham Cotter, a retired priest of the Diocese of Toronto. The purpose of the Sacred Arts Trust is to encourage the use of the arts in public worship, specifically in the areas of:

  • Liturgical Dance
  • Liturgical Drama
  • Music used with Liturgical Dance and Drama
  • Visual arts in worship, including textiles, painting, and sculpture
  • Sacred writing, including poetry and prose
  • Performing arts and theatrical productions
  • Creative, original, artistic work that includes a liturgical or worship component

The Sacred Arts Trust invites applications for funding from visual and textile artists, actors, dancers, students, musicians, clergy, and laity, including applications for study and workshops. The advisory committee of the Sacred Arts Trust usually meets twice a year to review applications for funding.

Dr. Cotter began writing, directing and producing liturgical dramas in Parkdale, Leaside in Toronto, and at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. While at St. Mark’s, Parkdale, he cooperated with Toronto artist Vaclav Vaca in producing the large altarpiece, The Cup of Blessing, and with the American sculptor Barbara Hughes in her work, Mark and Peter. He has also collaborated in the design of vestments and other visual artifacts. He later continued studies in religion and the arts, especially liturgical dance, at the Pacific School of Religion, in Berkeley, CA.

In Leaside, and later in retirement at St. Mark’s, Port Hope, he produced and directed the seven dramas which are found in his book The Mysteries at St. Cuthbert’s, 1985, and the four dramas and two other dramatic adaptations found in the book The Cup of Blessing, 1998.

A list of projects funded through grants from the Sacred Arts Trust can be found here: Sacred Arts Trust Projects

Donors who wish to promote the arts in worship may donate directly to the Sacred Arts Trust.

Please complete your application and submit it using the new Grant Application Portal.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Foundation office by email.