Each day at the Glen follows a similar format: classes in the morning and a variety of optional faculty lectures, readings, interviews, concerts, field trips, open mics, and worship services incorporating the arts in the afternoons and evenings. After morning classes, Wednesday is wide open to rest, create, and explore. A detailed schedule will be available this spring. A basic outline of our week is available here.

Craft classes are hands-on, craft-based classes in which artists working at all levels can enhance their skills. Seminars are immersive, discussion-based classes that offer both artists and patrons opportunities for critical engagement with art, mystery, and faith. Take a class if you mostly want to make art at the Glen. Take a seminar if you mostly want to think about art at the Glen.

The Glen is an experiment in creativity and community. It only lasts a week, but for many it’s also a source of friendships that continue for years. The Glen means a lot to people who feel split between two worlds—an art or literary world that seems baffled by, indifferent to, or suspicious of their interest in God, and a church world that feels similarly about their identity as artists. If your life feels that way, the Glen is where you might find your people. If you’re lucky enough not to feel this divide at home, well, savor it—and bring your friends along! Read How to Glen to learn more about our community, values, the vulnerability we seek to honor, and our expectations for one another during our time together.

At the Glen we espouse a vision of art that emphasizes discipline, excellence, and high standards, but we also want developing artists to receive the positive reinforcement they need to continue to grow in their craft. The Glen staff and faculty understand that you make yourself vulnerable when you participate in a class, and we want the environment to be one of safety, understanding, and respect.

Our faculty have been chosen not only because of their excellence as writers or artists, but also because they are sensitive and effective teachers. They work extremely hard to maintain a positive atmosphere in the classroom and they strive to give everyone—whatever their level of achievement may be—the kind of feedback they need.

Open mics are opportunities to share your work, and they’re a highlight of the Glen. We usually host multiple open mic opportunities throughout the week, and all are welcome to attend. If you’d like to perform or present your work (all genres welcome!), you can sign up for a five-minute slot on a first-come, first-served basis at the Information Desk.

NOTE: If we have more demand than capacity and you sign up for multiple open mic nights, you may be asked to give up a spot so that we can provide as many people as possible an opportunity to share their work.

ALSO: Glen staff are unable to format slideshows. Visual artists are responsible to format their own presentations.

The Glen is framed by Image’s commitment to incarnational humanism, rooted in the Christian tradition. But that compels us to welcome fellow travelers and seekers who might not share our convictions. We offer opportunities for daily worship that are optional. These opportunities for prayer and contemplation tend to reflect our Christian heritage, but we try to be mindful of ways that all of us—Jews, Christians, Muslims, and those of other faith and even no faith—could be joined together by prayer. Sometimes it’s messy, or puzzling, or confusing, but we think it’s good practice for encountering mystery.

Yes. Read Care & Keeping: A Guide to Image Groups to learn more about our community, values, the vulnerability we seek to honor, and our expectations for one another during our time together.