How did Renaissance Canada start?

by Jess Sanchez

Renaissance Canada began as a dream, as many ministries and initiatives do. But this was one that was planted deep in my heart years and years ago, long before I had the language, strategy, or even support to bring it to life. I didn’t know what it would look like or how to even begin, but I carried this one persistent burden: to reach artists with the hope and love of Jesus.

As someone who has always walked the line between ministry and creativity, I’ve served in various church contexts where my artistic gifts were welcomed but often not fully understood. I’ve sat in rooms where creativity was used to fill space rather than change it. And I’ve grieved the unspoken (and sometimes spoken) tension between the Church and the arts. It became crystal clear to me over time that there was a deep disconnect… One that wasn’t just institutional, but spiritual and cultural.

At the same time, I was becoming increasingly aware of the very silent pain that so many artists carry, because it was one that I carried as well. As an artist, I often felt misunderstood in my own filmmaking and photographic endeavours. I’d watched so many of my friends become deeply discouraged simply from a lack of encouragement and support, causing them to give up on the incredible gifts they were entrusted with. In Canada, artists are more likely than the general population to experience poor mental health, unstable income, and social isolation. According to recent studies, Canadian artists are nearly twice as likely to report experiencing depression, and more than 60% struggle with chronic financial stress. These aren’t just numbers, they’re people. They’re souls made beautifully and wonderfully in the image of God, creating in the midst of deep need.

We’re also living in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. In 2023 following the COVID pandemic, the Government of Canada declared loneliness and social isolation to be public health concerns. For many artists, whose work is often solitary and whose communities are fragmented, this reality hits especially hard.

The more I prayed, the more I listened, the more I wrestled with God…

The more I felt compelled to respond.

Renaissance Canada was born out of that calling. It is a ministry that exists to bridge the gap between the Church and the arts. I believe that the arts are not just a cultural luxury but a spiritual battleground, a prophetic voice, and a space where beauty, truth, and hope can break through in powerful ways.

We exist to remind the Church that creativity is not just decoration, but something that is divine. And we exist to remind artists that they are not forgotten, not alone, and not too far gone for Jesus to reach them right where they are. The world needs beauty. And most importantly, the artists who bring it.

This is more than a project. It’s a movement. A rebirth. A Renaissance. And I can’t wait to continue sharing this journey with you all.