Catholic Art Institute’s 6th Annual Conference – September 19-20 at CUA

Reviving Faith & Hope Through Sacred Art

The Catholic Art Institute is pleased to present its 6th Annual Conference, with the theme “Reviving Faith & Hope Through Sacred Art,” scheduled for September 19 & 20, 2025 at the Catholic University of America. This gathering will feature six distinguished speakers from across the artistic disciplines, bringing their insight, experience, and expertise to bear on the pressing questions about the role of beauty in our liturgy and culture. The conference is geared towards artists, art lovers and patrons alike, and provides a unique opportunity to network with creative and entrepreneurial Catholics from around the world.

Featured Speakers

• James C. McCrery, II, AIA, NCARB, classical architecture practitioner, founder of McCrery Architects and Director of Classical Architecture & Urbanism at Catholic University, McCrery brings a wealth of experience in ecclesiastical and civic buildings informed by profound symbolic meaning. Most recently, he was commissioned to design the new White House Ballroom by President Trump.
• Fr. Patrick van der Vorst, Precentor at Westminster Cathedral, former art-world leader and founder of Christian.art. Recently ordained to the priesthood (June 2023), Fr. van der Vorst brings a remarkable background—25 years as a Director of Sotheby’s Europe including auctioning collections of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor and Elton John. Fr Patrick is the Cathedral Precentor and Prefect of the Sacristy. He oversees the liturgy and coordinates special services, liaising with the Music Department. As founder of the Christian.art website, he offers daily meditations of gospel readings accompanied by sacred art, as well as video presentations on sacred art.
• Duncan G. Stroik, architect, scholar, and advocate for sacred architecture. As a Professor of Architecture at Notre Dame and founding editor of Sacred Architecture Journal, Stroik is celebrated for designing liturgical masterpieces like Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel in California. His writings, including The Church Building as a Sacred Place, offer guidance on how beauty can elevate worship.
• Dr. Barbara Nicolosi, screenwriter, producer, and cultural prophet. With 23 years in Hollywood and membership in the Writers Guild of America-West, Nicolosi blends faith and mainstream storytelling. Her credits include Fatima (2020) and The Last Supper (2025) and theological consultant to Mel Gibson for The Passion of the Christ (2004).
• Dr. Mark Nowakowski, composer bridging tradition and innovation. As composer-in-residence for His Majesty’s Men and composer for the Mass of the Ages trilogy, Nowakowski’s music has been released on the Naxos and DUX labels. He will speak about the unique dignity of the vocation of the arts of the beautiful.
• David Riccio, conservator and plaster-gilding specialist. As a principal at Canning Liturgical Arts, Riccio is a leading expert in historical plaster, decorative painting, and gilding, having directed restoration on landmarks including the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wisconsin and The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Pennsylvania.

Event Highlights

• Opening Mass (September 19) – A Votive Mass of Bl. Fra Angelico at the Dominican House of Studies Chapel, accompanied by choral selections of Palestrina and Guillaume Du Fay.
• Friday & Saturday, Presentations & Receptions – Each followed by moderated Q&As, with a VIP Reception on Friday for VIP ticket holders to engage with the speakers and a general reception on Saturday for all conference attendees.
• Exhibitors – Canning Liturgical Arts, Albl Oberammergau, Conrad Schmitt Studios, Evergreen Architectural Arts, Exquisite Art, King Richard's Liturgical Design, Harrison Design Architecture, St. Augustine Academy Press, and Willet Studios will be exhibiting and meeting with conference attendees.

Additional Sponsors: The Non Profit Solution, New Jerusalem Studios, Atelier Sirio. Liturgical Arts Journal.

Tickets & Participation

Member rate: $300; Non-member: $350; VIP: $400 (includes reserved front seating and access to VIP reception).

Registration closes September 16, 2025. No walk-ins.

To register please visit; https://www.catholicartinstitute.org/conference2025

We hope to see you at one of the most exciting Catholic events of the year focused on restoring beauty and excellence to the Catholic arts!

The 4th Annual Conference of the Catholic Art Institute, October 30 in Chicago

On October 30, the Catholic Art Institute, a Chicago-based Catholic Arts organization, will host another landmark conference bringing together today’s leading artists and scholars, to rediscover the power of Beauty in the modern world. This year, the Institute welcomes Scottish composer and conductor Sir James MacMillan as the keynote speaker; also presenting will be Alexander Stoddart, Sculptor in Ordinary to King Charles the III, as well as James McCrery, II AIA, NCARB award winning architect and Principal of McCrery Architects.

The theme of this year’s conference theme is “Art & Virtue,” and the event will take place at Chicago’s Athenaeum Theater. located at 2936 N. Southprt Avenue. The theater is a beautiful art deco building that seats 1100 attendees. Two basic ticket types will be available; ones for the presentations only, and another that include lunch, an elegant three course dinner and open bar, followed by a panel discussion with the conference presenters. Ticket prices start at $48 for tickets without catering and $275 for tickets that include lunch, dinner, and the panel discussion. VIP tickets are also available to include a thirty minute reception with the speakers. For details and to purchase tickets, please visit:
http://www.catholicartinstitute.org/conference2022 .

Sponsorship ads and tables are available for reservation. For details and to reserve your ad or table, please visit:
https://www.catholicartinstitute.org/sponsorships .

Additionally, the conference will begin with a Solemn High Mass featuring selections Sir James MacMillan, in Chicago’s historic St. John Cantius Church, a parish known for bringing beauty into Christian worship.

“Return to Beauty”: Catholic Art Institute Conference in Chicago, October 24

On Sunday, October 24th, the Catholic Art Institute, a Chicago-based community of artists, will host a major conference bringing together leading artists and scholars to rediscover the power of Beauty in the modern world.

The conference, entitled “Return to Beauty,” will feature Sohrab Ahmari, columnist for many publications including the New York Post and The Catholic Herald, and author of several books including The New Philistines and The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos. His presentation will be titled “Liminality, Communitas, and Beauty” in reference to cultural anthropologist Victor Turner’s defense of the Tridentine Mass.

Also presenting is renowned art historian, author, and Vatican tour guide Elizabeth Lev, whose recent books include the acclaimed How Catholic Art Saved the Faith. Her presentation, “Returning to Wonder – Lessons from the Giants of Italian Art,” will discuss why Christians initially became involved with art, and how they employed human creativity to underscore key Christian beliefs.

Filmmaker and podcaster Cameron O’Hearn, whose visionary work Mass of the Ages has garnered over a half-million views on YouTube, will also present. His talk, “Beauty Will Save the World”, will discuss how art changed the course of his life, and how artists can change the world by reminding us of our purpose.

This ground-breaking event opens with a Solemn High Mass featuring Renaissance choral music in the baroque splendor of Chicago’s historic St John Cantius Church, a parish well known for bringing beauty into Christian worship.

Conference presentations will take place at the The Drake Hotel, accompanied by a sumptuous lunch buffet, a four-course dinner banquet, culminating in a panel discussion with the speakers, moderated by art critic for The Federalist, William Newton.

“Beauty has been denigrated in today’s culture as a result of the prevalent utilitarian ideology. This unfortunately relegates those with artistic gifts to the periphery or worse, and tells them their gifts are useless,” says organizer and CAI President Kathleen Carr, who is also an award- winning fine artist. “This conference will shine a light on the necessity of Beauty in the modern world and offer an opportunity for fellowship, networking and a path to restoration.”

Everyone is welcome to attend: for tickets and details, please visit www.catholicartinstitute.org/conference2021

Inquires or requests for interviews can be directed to kcarr@catholicartinstitute.org