Welcome to Culture Footprint, featuring one of the people of God making a difference in the world today, aiming to be an inspiring presence and telling the story of Christ in the culture.
Luke Walton is the Arts Development Officer at Bible Society, and part of the 'Bible advocacy team' to help change the public perception of the Bible and reconnect our wider society with God's word. His work has included Christmas installations, commissioning theatre work and engagement with many artists. This year he and his co-producers Jonathan Brown and Jackie Sheppard were awarded Best International short film at the 168 film festival in LA for their film 'Unscripted'.
He is chair of the Arts Forum for Change. Luke is an ordained Anglican minister and lives in Bristol.
As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an Olympic gymnast, but then realised that at 10, I was already too old to make it.
How did you get involved in the arts?
Many paths have led me to where I am- music, studying art history at school and amateur theatre groups, but I guess acting with Riding Lights Theatre Company was a really significant milestone.
Angel of the North or Horse of the South?
Has to be the Gormley - though I thought 'Blind Light' a more intriguing work.
What would you do with a million quid?
Not enough for a feature film, but I'm working on this great idea to get a series of short films made - all based on phrases from the Bible that have entered the English language. A million quid could make that happen. I would like to help secure the future of an arts centre at the same time.
Who has been the biggest influence in your work?
There are a number of people over the years and I have been fortunate to always have a network of mentors to encourage and inspire me. Nigel Bates, my geography teacher, taught justice and hope alongside maps and mountains; Ann Holt at the moment - space and freedom to develop mission work in the arts has been fantastic.
Which movie character do you most relate to?
Buzz Lightyear
What is the function of Public Arts?
Does art have to have a function? There is a huge range from the prophetic, to the inherently beautiful, and from the purely entertaining to the inspiring and challenging. Think of what has been on the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square.
Tell us one of your most hilarious faux pas...
Well there is the occasion when I left my microphone on during a three hour service and forgot that when I nipped out to...
What has been your biggest disappointment?
That I have not always learnt from my mistakes, despite giving myself plenty of opportunity to do so.
What Christian story or biblical text motivates you in your work?
The account in Luke 24 of the disciples' journey on the road to Emmaus. There is much to enjoy here - the scriptures coming to life and the idea of journey. Part of my work is about encouraging and being alongside those in the arts, so I find verse 35 particularly important.
Having said all that the idea of finishing all my work in six days is really inspirational.
Martin Luther King Jr had a dream for society. What is yours?
I want to belong to a generation that has invested, commissioned and created a legacy in the arts that will resonate for years, reflects the creativity of our God and is inspired by his word.
What is the main hindrance to living the dream?
Someone once said 'dream no small dreams for they stir not the hearts of men [or women]'. I think that is true but I think that in the UK we also have a culture that fears the big dreams too (what if it rains?)
My cultural highlight of this year so far is...
Shooting a short film in a co-production with the Theatre company that I used to work with (Riding Lights) and alongside a fantastic crew and cast. Fun to see it screened in LA too.
What is your least green credential?
The amount I travel with my work. Or possibly our 1974 VW camper van.
If you were commissioned to deliver a message through art, what medium would you use?
We have had centuries of history richly laced with great art, writing, music and creativity. But today, for me, it would have to be film. If they had been making film when they first printed books we would still be watching those films, and a classic film will have impact for centuries to come!
What is your vision for the arts 10 years from now?
I long to see us once more leading the way in creative communication. For centuries we could tell the stories of the Bible in wonderful ways - just think of the impact of stained glass windows in a world where dyed clothes were a luxury and where many could not read. My vision is to see Christians once more being at the forefront of communication and creativity, and for the arts to be inspiring a society founded on a genuinely Biblical world view.
Tell us a joke...
Penguin goes into a bar, orders a meal and a drink and takes out the paper and starts to read. The landlady goes up to him and says,
'Did you know that the circus is coming to town?'
'Nope,' says the penguin, 'why do you ask?'
'Well they're bound to have a job going,' says the landlady
'Oh?' says the penguin 'and what would they want an IT specialist for?'
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Culture Footprint: Phil Schluter Phil Schluter runs a family coffee business founded in 1858, which specialises in African coffees. The enterprise trades in a socially responsible and ethical manner. Phil grew up in Kenya, did most of his education in the UK, lived in Switzerland for 16 years, and has been in Liverpool since 2009. He is married to Helen, and they have four kids under the age of seven – Luc, Jasmine, Gabriel and Josselin.
Culture Footprint: Bridget Adams Bridget Adams started her working life as a physicist in university and government laboratories before moving into the high-tech business sector where she worked in sales, marketing, management, and consultancy. Bridget now works to help start, develop and network Christian-run businesses, and runs WorkPlace Inspired. Business as Mission is one of her passions.
Culture Footprint: Theresa Stone Theresa studied English Literature at Goldsmiths University in London, before doing a multi-media journalism masters at Bournemouth University. She has worked freelance at Premier Christian Radio, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Micah Challenge International. She is now the prayer & communications coordinator for 24-7 Prayer UK. Theresa has a passion for prayer, church unity, mission, justice, and telling God stories.
Culture Footprint: Steve Legg Steve is an evangelist from Littlehampton in West Sussex who has travelled the length and breadth of the UK and internationally for the last 25 years using a daft mix of comedy, trickery, mystery and escapology to communicate the gospel. He has also written 13 books and these days devotes a lot of time to running Sorted Magazine. Originally from Bournemouth, he became a Christian as a teenager at a Boys’ Brigade camp. Steve loves a good curry, never misses Eggheads on BBC2 and plays badminton every day.
Culture Footprint: Andy Silver Andy Silver is director of Pop Connection. A Welshman, born in Cardiff, he studied music at Cardiff University and then taught for a number of years. Andy gave up teaching to do a theology course which led him to work in a church as music director and youth/children's worker in Southampton. Next, he became director of training at Capernwray in the Lake District and then joined the staff at Elmwood Church Salford in 2000, where he started working in primary schools using music to create a long-term relationship between school and church. Pop Connection is a charity aiming to unite schools, churches and communities through the power of music.
Date Created: 22 June 2009
Last Modified: 22 June 2009
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