History

ArtServe was an initiative of the former Methodist Church Music Society (MCMS), which started life in 1935 as a fellowship of Methodist organists and choirmasters. At that time, not only were these the only people in most churches with any responsibility for music, but also music was almost the sole art form regularly used in worship.

MCMS was established to 'cultivate and co-ordinate all the musical resources of Methodism in the interests of public worship.' The society was formally recognised by the Methodist Conference in 1948 and in 1974 became part of the Division of Ministries within Methodism.

In the 1990s MCMS became an independent organisation and later a registered charity. However it worked closely with the Methodist structure and was a member of the Methodist Creative Arts Forum, a group established to support and develop the use of all forms of creativity within the Methodist Church.

When funding for Creative Arts was withdrawn, MCMS and other interested groups met to explore ways of filling the gap. It was eventually decided that the best way forward was for MCMS to set up a new organisation. ArtServe was born in 2008 and initially ran alongside MCMS. Eventually, MCMS activities and assets were transferred to ArtServe and MCMS formally ceased to exist as a separate organisation on 31 August 2010.

ArtServe 2008 - present day

From 2010 onwards ArtServe held its individual annual Meeting changing from Annual Conference to Annual Festival as it was felt it was more of a celebration of coming together. 

The Festival has continued to be held annually switching between meeting in the north and south at Swanwick and High Leigh Conference centres until 2023 when changes to those centres and ever increasing costs made the Board look elsewhere in order to continue being a cost effective event for participants. We were fortunate to secure Kents Hill Park, a venue in Milton Keynes for 2024 and at Yarnfield Park, Stone, in Staffordshire for 2025.

With the ArtServe Magazine, Regional Days, Online Workshops, monthly face to face online chats, monthly electronic newsletter, the website, the members only Fellowship facebook page alongside our public facebook page, ArtServe is growing in ideas, going from strength to strength, growing more members and looking forward to many more years together. 

We look forward to walking and working with you into the future and seeing you at an ArtServe event soon.