Contact: Joey O'Connor, The Grove Center for the Arts, 949-584-8868, joey@thegrovecenter.org

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Feb. 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Grove Center for the Arts announced the launch of a newly designed website today for artists in the Church. The Grove’s new website offers artists of all artistic disciplines a creative mix of online content, community and ecommerce opportunities. The California-based ministry now offers video interviews, podcasts, spiritual growth resources, Grove retreat information, free community event postings and ecommerce marketing opportunities for artists, non-profit arts organizations, churches and businesses.

Executive Director Joey O’Connor stated, “The launch of our new website takes our work with artists in the Church to a whole new level. This is the first of many phases we have for offering artists the tools they need for spiritual, professional and creative growth. Not only will we offer free video, podcasts, and community posting to artists and churches, we are also offering an affordable press release service to help artists and churches get the word out about their art or events.”

The Grove Center for the Arts website was designed and engineered by John Hinson of Vowel, Inc. A musician himself, Hinson has designed web applications for such companies as Nike, T-Mobile, Dell Computer, and Bank of America. O’Connor continued, “Not only is John an amazing and experienced web developer, he’s a phenomenal piano player who knows the artistic challenges of recording and marketing his own music. John has a very vested interest in seeing The Grove’s website be a practical and successful tool for all artists.”

The Grove also announced the launch of The Grove Foundation for the Arts online grant campaign entitled “What’s the Big Idea?” The Grove Foundation is giving away three cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000 and $500 for the most innovative ideas for seeing Christ in culture through any artistic discipline. “When people hit our home page, they will immediately be able to register for ‘What’s the Big Idea?’ For centuries, the Church led the world in creativity, innovation, the arts, science, technology, hospitals and universities,” O’Connor summarized, “the development of Western Civilization as we know it. We’re in need of a few more great ideas.”

The Grove Center for the Arts also recently announced its plans to develop the first national retreat center for arts in the Church in Valley Center, California (North San Diego). The Grove Center for the Arts offers retreats and programs to nurture the spiritual development and creative vision of artists in the Church.