About Us

Orein Arts mission is to reunite the sistered vocations of the creative life and the spiritual life for a deeper encounter with beauty. Our core offering is short-term creative arts residencies at a monastery.

︎︎ My time at Orein was magical. Even as someone raised outside the Christian / Catholic tradition, I was taken in by the contemplative environment, ritual, and quiet kindness of the brothers, and found it impacted my creative process in unexpected and powerful ways.

—Adam R., Writer

Vision & Values

Spirituality and Creativity

We believe a spiritual relationship to our creativity and a creative relationship to our spirituality is essential for the full realization of our identity. We exist to help nurture and refresh this relationship from the inside, engaging in initiatives that allow art and spirit to touch, and upholding values of beauty, creativity, contemplation, and community.

An Encounter With Beauty

The foundational vision of Orein Arts is manifest in the Gospel account of the Visitation. Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, both pregnant, and when Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, the child in her womb "leaps for joy." This encounter reveals something essential about the artistic vocation: one bears the miracle of creativity to another, and life joyfully recognizes life in return. The name Orein comes from the Greek word for “hill country” in Luke’s account, the place of encounter. From this place, we envision a world that is more communal, creative, and beautiful.

Belonging is Life-giving

We value our community of artists as a great treasure. We recognize that we belong to one another and are responsible for one another’s flourishing. The radical hospitality of the monks bears witness to this way of life and we strive to let it form us. Together, with attention and love, we cross thresholds that cannot be crossed alone.

Our Team

We are a small but growing organization with part-time positions, a group of volunteers, and a team of advisors.

Founder/Director—

Nick Maione

Residency Coordinator—
Tia Shearer Bassett

Advisors—

Paul Anel
Br. Bruno
Tony Cernera
Zac Chastain
Laura Cortese
Eve Davila
Sue Knight
Caroline McCormick
John Sieracki
Isaac Slater
John Straus
Jep Streit

Support

Head to our Support Us page or make a direct donation to our fellowships here.

Contact & Connect

If you’d like to contact us directly, you can reach us by email: ︎

The best way to stay connected is by signing up for our mailing list below or following us on social media:
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