The Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts (ITIA) was founded in 2000, and is a research institute based in St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews, Scotland.
ITIA aims to advance and enrich an active conversation between Christian theology and the arts — bringing rigorous theological thinking to the arts, and bringing the resources of the arts to the enterprise of theology. As part of this mission, we seek to explore the role of the imagination in the arts, as part of a wider theological interest in the imaginative aspects of our humanity.
The conversation between Christian theology and the arts takes multiple forms in ITIA including:
The Master of Letters (MLitt) in Theology, Imagination and the Arts is a 1-year full-time residential programme during which students take three modules taught by ITIA staff and write a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic agreed with their appointed supervisor. Learn more here.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a 3-year full-time residential programme during which students write a 60,000-80,000 word dissertation on a topic agreed with their appointed supervisor. Learn more here.
2) Ashgate Studies in Theology, Imagination and the Arts:
Clemena Antonova, Space, Time and Presence in the Icon: Seeing the World with the Eyes of God
Oleg V. Bychkov and James Fodor, eds. Theological Aesthetics After von Balthasar
Kerry Dearborn, Baptized Imagination: The Theology of George MacDonald
Edward Farley, Faith and Beauty: A Theological Aesthetic
Malcolm Guite, Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination
Richard Harries, The Passion in Art
Trevor A. Hart and Steven R. Guthrie, Faithful Performances: Enacting Christian Tradition
Aidan Nichols, The Poet as Believer: A Theological Study of Paul Claudel
Aidan Nichols, Redeeming Beauty: Soundings in Sacral Aesthetics
Has any consideration been given to providing a course for artists who would like to explore how their theology impacts on their art and to study how belief and art have informed each other in the past?
I remember the occasion at the beginning of the institute when a performance of Tolstoy’s short stories was given and was open to the public as well as the students. I have been hoping that more such events would happen, allowing all who are interested to engage with the arts “live”. This would enrich both your courses and the lives of those who attend.
I am an artist who is very interested in the topics you are considering but I have not studied theology so I would be approaching them from the opposite direction from your students.