National Outreach Campaign Encourages Public to Visit Neighborhood Sacred Spaces in October
New York Sites Open Doors October 9-10, 2010
In conjunction with the national PBS broadcast of God in America on October 11-13, more than 100 sacred spaces in eight cities will open their doors to the public for a national outreach campaign designed to engage communities in conversations about religion and contemporary spirituality. The eight cities and the selected sacred spaces—in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Santa Fe, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon—are showcased in companion guidebooks produced by the Chicago-based nonprofit Sacred Space International.
Selected for their architectural significance, their impact on a city’s history or contemporary culture and their willingness to engage in interfaith dialogue, the sacred spaces in each city guidebook represent an eclectic mix of churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and nondenominational spaces.
“Our criteria for selection varied a bit from city to city,” says Deirdre Colgan, executive director of Sacred Space International, “but in each case we selected sites from the modest to the magnificent. Whether you align yourself with a particular faith tradition, have no religious belief or consider yourself ‘spiritual but not religious’ there is much to uncover in a visit to sacred spaces… especially when it’s one you walk by every day but have never stepped inside.”
In New York, the following sites will be participating in the open house weekend October 9-11:
St. Malachy's Church, Central Synagogue, St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church, East End Temple, Grace Church, Brotherhood Synagogue, St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, St. Peter's Lutheran Church and Islamic Cultural Center of New York.
Open house visits are designed to be self-guided. Docents or faith tradition representatives will be at each participating location to welcome visitors and provide a brief overview of the space. For the complete weekend schedule, to register and to download the “City Guide to Sacred Spaces in New York," visit http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/outreach/tour.html
About God in America
God in America is an American Experience/FRONTLINE co-production, headed by series executive producer Michael Sullivan, series producer Marilyn Mellowes, series director David Belton, and producer/directors Greg Barker and Sarah Colt. The executive producer for FRONTLINE is David Fanning. The executive producer for American Experience is Mark Samels.
American Experience and FRONTLINE are produced by WGBH and broadcast nationwide on PBS. Major funding for God in America was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Fetzer Institute, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers, with additional support from The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.
Exclusive corporate funding for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual. Major funding provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Public Television Viewers. Major funding for FRONTLINE is provided by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation with additional funding by the Park Foundation.
About Sacred Space International
Sacred Space International was founded in 2002 by Suzanne Morgan to promote interfaith education and dialogue through the understanding of religious architecture. Morgan, a retired architect with expertise in liturgical design, started the organization in response to the events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent climate of social tension, cultural misunderstanding and fear. She conceived the idea of religious architecture as a catalyst for interfaith dialogue and education. Without promoting any single faith or tradition, the organization seeks to use the common language of architecture as an educational means to foster reciprocal respect, awareness and appreciation of the different traditions that comprise our pluralistic society.
Sacred Spaces Tours reach across cultural and religious boundaries and use architecture and physical space as a way to appreciate the many different paths to spiritual fulfillment.
About Open House New York Weekend
Open House New York Weekend, America's largest architect and design event, opens doors throughout New York City each October. The 8th Annual openhousenewyork Weekend will be held October 9 & 10, 2010. Mark your calendars to discover new neighborhoods, explore with friends and family, and experience NYC's architecture and design in all five boroughs through special talks, tours, performances and family-friendly workshops – all free of charge!
