Kieran, Open Table Network Director, and their Trustees and I had no idea that the Open to All tour would be so amazing on so many levels. We just decided to do it because it seemed to be a good and interesting idea. It felt a bit inspired, but didn’t blow us away. We just cracked on. We made a good enough case for purpose for the Westhill Foundation to help sponsor it and there was enough interest from churches for a good number of them to sponsor with direct expenses.
But it has been so very much more than any of us ever expected. First, it spawned the Spirit Justice tour. I had enquiries about taking Open to All to more churches and by time of receiving those invitations, we were booked. So I pulled together other artwork which I’d had in mind to tour and suggested that. As I write, Spirit Justice and Open to All are in their last venues of both tours. It has been incredible.
Winchester’s Church Secretary summed it up for me, “It has been everything we hoped for. It brought people over the threshold, it introduced us to people in the community we didn’t know, it has raised the profile of God’s and our own inclusion.” The Dean of Coventry remarked that the paintings allowed the Cathedral to illustrate what it has already been saying. The individual conversations I’ve had at each venue have been treasured moments.
We’ve seen a lot of rain, a lot of road and an enormous amount of unfailing hospitality. Help has been ready at hand, warmth has been flowing to take us in and support us. Pete and I have become quite the set up and close down specialists and our red Berlingo Abi has been awesome. Yes, we would do it again. The depth of conversation and faith to make community differences is the fantastic pay-off for us. Let alone the money raised to help support the Open Table Network and anti racist charities. Yes, we would do it again.
