Calling all artists… (and those who LOVE art)
Happy New Year everyone!
I hope your Christmas and New Years was full of JOY. I was so busy with family and get togethers that it went by in a blink. It feels like I’m still catching up on things… anyone else feeling like it can’t possibly be the middle of January yet?
Well, we have some very BIG news to announce today, so I won’t delay…
Art & Faith Creative Scholarship Fund
It’s finally happening! We’re starting a scholarship fund for our Art & Faith Creative Retreats!!
I’ve been praying for a few years now about a way to share our retreats with someone who wouldn’t normally be able to afford to join one. A way to encourage someone each year that longs to get away from life for a bit and be refreshed in their faith. Someone who wants to be inspired, create and give glory to God through their creativity. We are so excited to see what He wants to do with this “God-sized” dream!
A little of the story behind this idea: Over the years I’ve had women email me and ask if I had some sort of scholarship fund for our retreats. I had never actually heard of that before but I thought that was such a great idea!
I’ve mentioned before that hosting these retreats is a ministry to me. I’ve never looked at it as a business, (other than when my bookkeeper tells me I need to, hahaha) so I try my best to keep them as affordable as possible. But the retreats are mostly in Europe, and travel and expenses to Italy is a lot these days. I know it’s not something everyone can afford to do, and we’d really love to bless someone each year by giving them an opportunity to join in on one of our retreats!
So, in order to begin this scholarship fund… I NEED YOUR HELP!
I’ve seen first hand how life-changing these retreats can be, and I’m not overstating this friends. Just take a look at some of the “kind words” women have shared with me over the years. So it would be such a JOY to bring someone along that really needs to be encouraged in the Lord and for them to be blessed in this way. My prayer is to start doing this EVERY year, and in order to do that, I have a few ideas that I’m going to need help with.
Here’s how you can help:
Donate to the Scholarship Fund.
Donate your art. (see below)
Pray for this to be a blessing for many years to come.
This June I’ll be holding the first “Night of Artists” Event in Bellagio! It will be on Tuesday evening, during the week of our retreat, and it will be open to the public. I’m hoping (and praying) that I’ll have enough art from YOU to fill the Tower… yes this event is in a beautiful ancient TOWER in the center of Bellagio!
All (as in 100%) of the proceeds will go towards the scholarship fund! My hope is to open up the scholarship program this fall, so that someone will be able to join one our retreats in 2026 for free!
Anyone interested in applying will come directly to my website and there’ll be a button at the top that will take you to a page where you’ll fill out the application form. We’ll have a panel of 5 people who will look over the applications and pick one person each year. Lord willing we can continue this for many, many years… with your help.
If you would like to donate $$ to this fund, there is a DONATE button at the top of the website. Please know that ALL of your money will go towards having one person join us at one of our retreats next year, and hopefully each year going forward.
If you would like to donate a piece(s) of art, please email me and let me know as soon as possible . I will need to take all the art with me to Bellagio before the event, so I will send you all the details of where to send it, date I need it by and any size restrictions.
If you don’t think you’re an artist and have nothing to offer… please think again. I would LOVE to have all kinds of art at this event! Paintings, pottery, handmade cards, jewelry, stampings, handmade journals… anything you’ve made with your hands would be AMAZING! Think outside the box, and let me know what you’d like to contribute to this scholarship fund.
Like I said, I’ve been praying about this for years now and last fall I finally took a step of faith and made a commitment to do this!
I’ve rented out the tower for the event, I have flyers being made that will be ALL over the town, I’m hiring caterers to prepare a little appertivo for everyone who comes, and I’m enlisting friends in town to help with this event! To say that I’m a bit scared/nervous/excited about this event is an understatement.
Please be in prayer for this event. Pray for all those involved, that my daughters and I will be a light in this community and can share more about our retreats through this event. That we have enough art to fill the tower, and that we’ll completely trust that the Lord will provide and help us to make this dream a reality!
And let me say in advance, THANK YOU! Thank you for reading all the way to the bottom of my long blog posts. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement for so many years. Thank you for donating your time, money, and artistic skills to help us point people to Jesus through these retreats.
Hugs and love to all,
Laura McCollough
*I’m donating my own art, time and money towards this scholarship fund and the costs of this event in Bellagio will be coming directly from me and my family. And, I’m going to ask my accountant how to make this public so it’s transparent for everyone who donates and supports this fund to see where the money goes.