ABOUT US
Creo: to create in Latin
We inspire, connect, and equip missionaries of beauty — forming communities where art and faith flourish.
OUR PURPOSE
Rooted in the gospel and held together by a shared faith, Creo Arts is a national nonprofit ministry devoted to awakening the world to the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Christian story through the arts. We gather artists, patrons, and communities of all Christian backgrounds to be formed, inspired, and sent—participating together in the creative work God is already doing.
OUR IMPACT
Since 2022, we have supported diverse artistic projects that have touched communities across more than 20 states.
We are honored to have a strategic partnership with Belmont University’s Creative Arts Collective to offer grants for art projects that tell the Christianity story for a new generation.
What We Do
Inspire
We inspire missionaries of beauty by creating content, including short films, books, music, art, and other media.
Artists
We support artists by connecting them to a national network, by forming local art guilds and cohorts, and by providing consulting, training, and offering grants to create art that tells the Christian story. We long to help artists discover belonging, purpose, and new opportunities to offer their work within the life of the Church.
Connect
We connect missionaries of beauty in communities where art and faith flourish by offering a national network and by forming local art guilds.
Who We Serve
Patrons
We partner with patrons to dream together how their investments can have a Kingdom impact to help communities thrive and flourish through the arts and faith. We also invite patrons into meaningful partnerships with artists, supporting and commissioning works that tell the Christian story for a new generation.
Equip
We equip missionaries of beauty by
offering grants, consulting, training,
and retreats for art projects that tell the Christian story.
Churches & Organizations
We work across sectors to equip churches and organizations—from rural to urban—to cultivate creative initiatives such as art guilds, galleries, traveling exhibits, and gatherings. By connecting artists with churches, we help communities celebrate the creative gifts already among them while reimagining sacred spaces through beauty and collaboration.
WE BELIEVE
The arts are essential in fulfilling the Great Commission.
In our modern world, many people are seeking purpose and meaning. What if God wanted to use the arts to help us fulfill the Great Commission by engaging people’s imaginations? What if you have a special role to play in the new thing God is doing in and through the arts? We believe the answer is yes.
Art by Winfield Bevins
OUR FAITH
Creo Way of Life
Though our backgrounds and art forms differ, we are united by a common faith in God the Father—the Maker of all things, visible and invisible—and a shared way of life that shapes how we create, serve, and live in the world. If this vision awakens something in you, we invite you to join us as a missionary of beauty.
Co-creation
We are committed to co-creating art with God that is birthed from a place of prayer and partnership with the Holy Spirit.
Exodus 31:1-11
Sabbath
We are committed to working from a place of rest and taking time to do small things with great love that will have a Kingdom impact.
Matthew 11:28-30
Community
We are committed to forming communities of artists, patrons, and churches where art and faith flourish.
Acts 2:42
Place
We are committed to bringing beauty to the places where we live, nourishing and being nourished by the land and those who inhabit it.
Jeremiah 29:7
Hospitality
We are committed to practicing hospitality and generosity in everything we do, promoting all forms of art for the flourishing of the church and the world.
Acts 20:35
Ecumenical
We are committed to fostering unity across the whole church by building bridges across denominations and church traditions through the arts.
John 17:21
Beauty
We are committed to be missionaries of beauty who create art that reflects the light, love, and hope of the gospel for today’s world.
Psalm 90:17
What We Believe:
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We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the father.He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.Amen.
WHAT WE DO
Our Offerings
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Our team creates and produces stories of God’s beautiful work through the arts. We support and partner with creators, artists, churches, and organizations across the United States.
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Creo partners across sectors to inspire and equip churches and organizations of all sizes, from rural to urban. Our team is experienced in assisting churches and organizations in cultivating and supporting faith-driven artists to thrive in their local communities.
Our founder, Winfield Bevins, is an internationally recognized author, artist, and speaker with years of experience cultivating communities where faith and the arts thrive together. He speaks at numerous conferences and events a year, and can work directly with you to revitalize the arts in your context.
To book Winfield or another team member to speak at your church or conference, or to learn more about consulting, contact us here.
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Creo Arts offers Art Project Grants to support faith-driven creatives and organizations in bringing meaningful art to life. These grants provide funding and community for individual artists with projects that tell the Christian story and cultivate beauty, goodness, and truth through artistic expression. Past recipients have created works in film, visual arts, music, installation, performance, and more.
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We have an art gallery in Wilmore, KY that supports and celebrates faith driven artists to create and showcase original art, of all types. We also host different events, art shows, and workshops. Sign up here to receive updates for our Wilmore events.
Art by Mattie Karr
Our Team
Winfield Bevins
Dr. Winfield Bevins is an internationally recognized author, teacher, and artist. As an ordained minister and an artist, he has been working at the intersection of art, faith, and the church for more than two decades. He is the author of many books, including his most recent, How Beauty Will Save the World.
Founder & Executive Director, Artist
Kay Bevins
Kay is co-founder of Creo Arts and serves as Administrative Coordinator. She previously helped plant Church of the Outer Banks and brings a deep commitment to hospitality, community-building, and cultivating spaces where creativity can flourish.
Administrative Coordinator
Kelle Ortiz
Kelle is the co-founder of Soteria Productions, an Emmy Award–winning production company she established in 1998. She holds a master’s degree in theology from Asbury Theological Seminary and brings over 25 years of experience in creative direction, storytelling, and production. Her work spans video, photography, and integrated campaigns for nonprofit, corporate, and global clients, with a focus on leading teams and shaping meaningful, high-quality media.
Media & Communications
Jonathan Rodgers
Jonathan Rodgers is a freelance photographer and videographer specializing in visual storytelling. With a background in business marketing, he creates short-form documentaries that capture the craft, vocation, and stories of artists and communities.
Short Films & Social Media
Katie Watford
Katie Watford is a graphic designer and mixed media abstract artist exploring the intersection of art, design, and faith. A graduate of the Portfolio Center and Duke Divinity School (Theology and the Arts, 2023), her work ranges from brand systems to fine art and exhibitions. She is passionate about fostering creative communities through teaching, mentorship, and collaborative practice.
Brand Strategy & Design
Janelle Whitaker
Janelle is a creative leader focused on hospitality, community, and event experience. She holds degrees in Theatre and Cinema Performance from Asbury University and Theatre Arts from the University of Akron, and spent a decade leading large-scale events and engagement initiatives for a global brand. Her work centers on creating spaces of belonging through thoughtful gatherings and creative collaboration.
Gallery Manager & Community Coordinator
Our Advisors
Winfield Bevins
Dr. Winfield Bevins is an internationally recognized author, teacher, and artist. As an ordained minister and an artist, he has been working at the intersection of art, faith, and the church for more than two decades. He is the author of many books, including his most recent, How Beauty Will Save the World.
Founder & Executive Director, Artist
Linda Stratford, PhD
Linda Stratford, Ph.D., is a historian, writer, and educator dedicated to fostering thoughtful discussions about art. Initially trained as a studio artist, she has become a teacher-scholar and mentor, notably as the Director of the Asbury University Paris Semester.
Scholar in Residence
Wes Vander Lugt, PhD
Wes Vander Lugt is a pastor-theologian, writer, educator, nonprofit leader, and arts advocate. He teaches theology and directs the Leighton Ford Center for Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte. Wes holds a PhD in Theology, Imagination, and the Arts from the University of St Andrews, and he is the author and editor of several books.
Theologian in Residence
Lydia M. Peña, SL, PhD
Lydia M. Peña, SL, PhD, is an educator, author, artist, art historian, community leader, and fundraiser. After she graduated from Loretto Heights College and entered the Sisters of Loretto in Kentucky, she made her vows and began her life of service that has focused on education. Peña completed her PhD in Art History through Union Institute and University, after completing her doctoral dissertation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Art Historian & Educator
Fr. Murray Bodo
Fr. Murray Bodo, O.F.M., Ph.D., is a Franciscan Priest and a member of the Franciscan Academy. He earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Cincinnati and taught English and American Literature and the craft of writing for 36 years. He is an award-winning author of more than 25 books, including the best-selling Francis: The Journey and the Dream, Mystics: Ten Who Show Us the Ways of God, and Song of the Sparrow: New Poems and Meditations. His poems, stories, and articles have appeared in magazines and literary journals.
Poet and Priest
Board of Directors
Dr. Winfield Bevins
President & Executive Director
Kay Bevins
Co-founder
Will Plitt
Executive Director of Christ Together
Dr. J. Trehey Maner
Founder of Outer Banks Integrative
Kelly Macko
Co-owner, Macko Construction