You won't want to miss this.
Forefront events are where everything comes together. Talented artists perform and display their work. Thoughtful speakers discuss the convergence of faith and art. Attendees connect with other like-minded artists. If you care deeply about living out your faith in the arts, or just like experiencing great performances, Forefront events are the place to be.
Upcoming Events
Porchlight x Forefront Christmas Show 2023
Porchlight and Forefront cordially invite you to an evening of music, art, and community in celebration of the Christmas season.
- An artistic Christmas concert from 7-9pm in a festive venue featuring the artists of The Noble Kind, Brass Garden, and The Local Hangups (with Abbey Sitterley).
- Curated visual art on display around the room from local artists.
- Light snacks & refreshments.
An eventbrite ticket reserves your spot. This is a donation-based concert, meaning that it's free to attend but donations are strongly encouraged during/after the show! Cash or check can be given to the host, Gage Hunt, and 100% of sales will go directly to the artists.
Past Events
Melanie Penn in Concert
Friday, August 11
7-9:15 PM
Priddy Homestead: 60 Belcoda Rd, Churchville, NY 14428
Forefront Festival welcomes singer/songwriter Melanie Penn back to Rochester, NY for a special music show at the Priddy Homestead barn. Plus, there will be a special opening performance by Victoria Moore & Eric Andersen. It's an environment (and a show) that's fun for the whole family — bring your kids!
Spiritual Formation for Artists Workshop
- Learn the basic ideas around spiritual formation – the parts of a person, how spiritual formation happens, and how to engage in your own personal spiritual formation.
- Learn to articulate how your artistic practices have contributed to your spiritual formation.
- Learn to articulate how your spiritual formation has contributed to your artistic pursuits.
- Learn to think about your spiritual formation and artistic pursuits as combined endeavors.
A Night of Art with Josh & Zac Tiessen
Thursday, May 4
7-9:15 PM
Browncroft Community Church, 2530 Browncroft Blvd, Rochester, NY 14625
At Forefront Festival, there's nothing we like better than when multiple artistic mediums come together to make something amazing. So when painter Josh Tiessen and composer Zac Tiessen said they were coming through our hometown of Rochester NY, we couldn't miss the opportunity for a special event.
Josh will share about his new hypersurreal painting series "Vanitas and Viriditas," and Zac will perform original music that he composed to pair with the paintings. Plus, Rochester's own watercolor artist Jennifer Greenman will interview the brothers about faith, nature, and artistic process.
Christmas Variety Show 2022
Thursday, December 8, 7-9:30 PM at Browncroft Community Church
Forefront Festival and the Why God Why Podcast are partnering together for the second annual live Christmas Variety Show, and this year the headline performance is The Houghton Choir.
We're excited to welcome many incredible artists to speak or perform including M. Jerome Bell and Sarah Collins.
This show is a live performance event, but it is also a podcast recording, resulting in episodes that are released later in the month. Limited spots are available, so reserve your ticket today!
Forefront Festival 2022: Making New
Summer Music Meetup 2021
Forefront Festival: Virtual 2020
Winter Gallery Opening 2020
This was the first gallery of Rochester artists hosted by Forefront Collective. It was held at Boulder Coffee Co. on Saturday, February 29, 2020.
Attendees enjoyed what Boulder had to offer and experienced the new work of Rachel Coutant, Gage Forster, and Rachael Christman — plus live music by The Noble Kind, Cottage Street, and Abbey Sitterley, and a live poetry reading by Sean O'Hare.
Forefront Meetup 2019
Forefront Festival returned to Grace Road Church in Rochester, NY on November 2, 2019 with an all-new Meetup event.
Attendees enjoyed food, coffee by Trevor Leach from Imprint Coffee Roasters, an on-stage interview with accomplished artists, a gallery featuring designer Austin Zick, and a music performance by Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Melanie Penn.
Forefront Partnership 2019
On Saturday, April 27, 2019, the Forefront Festival team gathered at Grace Road Church in Rochester, NY to share what they'd been working on and invite attendees to partner with them financially to help Forefront reach more artists.
At the end of the event, Denver-based singer/songwriter Joel Ansett performed, featuring songs from his new album.
Forefront Festival 2017
Forefront came to Rochester, NY on April 29, 2017 with an all-day conference and festival. It featured poet Dr. Benjamin Myers, tap dancer Andrew Nemr, writer/director Isaac Deitz, author/producer Barry Cooper, storyteller Didrik Söderström, percussionist Aaron Locklear, and pop/folk band The Gray Havens.
Forefront Festival 2015
Forefront began on August 29, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA with Forefront Festival 2015. It featured author Dr. T. David Gordon, singer/songwriter Joel Ansett, and more. Join the Forefront Artist Network to get exclusive access to all the videos from the event!