FOR DR. MATTHEW Zantingh, starting in the role of associate dean of arts at Redeemer University has been like a homecoming.
His family moved from Ontario to Alberta in his last year of high school and while his siblings found affinity with the trades, he opted to get his degree from The King’s University in Edmonton. While pursuing his master’s and PhD focusing on Canadian literature and environmental humanities at McMaster University, he realized he wanted to work at a Christian institution. He spent 11 years at Briercrest College in Saskatchewan before coming to his new role at Redeemer. Having grown up in the Christian Reformed Church (his father is a CRC pastor and alumnus of Redeemer, attending during its early days) he knows Redeemer is a great fit for him because of its roots in the Reformed tradition.
“I’m delighted to be in a place where I can speak openly about my faith and bring that into what I teach and research,” says Zantingh, adding that integrating his faith into all aspects of life is part of the worldview under which he has always operated. “The Reformed worldview says very clearly that Christ has sovereignty over all careers and callings, whatever that looks like, whatever role you’re put in, he says, ‘Do this [and do this] in my name.’”
In Redeemer’s arts programs, that means studying music, visual art, media and communications and writing, and preparing to use the skills and talents acquired to bring hope to a world in need. “It’s exciting to see students say, ‘How do I speak to a broken-hearted world through this art, through this media project? … How do I reach out and offer Christ’s hope in a way that’s not going to turn the viewer off?’ They’re not standing on the corner preaching the Gospel, they’re trying to make connections, to be Christ’s hands and feet in really tangible ways.”
“The Reformed worldview says very clearly that Christ has sovereignty over all careers and callings, whatever that looks like, whatever role you’re put in, he says, ‘Do this [and do this] in my name.'”
The changing landscape of higher education has Zantingh getting back to basics in the classroom. He recognizes that students arriving at Redeemer have now been using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for several years. “I’m not a pessimist; I don’t think it’s the end of the world,” he says. But he feels something is missing when all learning happens on a screen. “I tell my students, ‘You should have books and paper and pens. This is the best way to learn.’” He places high value on the classes where students are reading physical books, engaging in learning together, having rich discussion and pushing each other. “That’s what students are paying for, even if they don’t necessarily know that.”
While students may use GenAI tools in their work, Redeemer’s arts programs will teach them important hands-on skills to hone their crafts. Painting, drawing, recording and editing video, building video sets, using boom mics and writing for various media, paired with the core classes that underpin a Christian liberal arts and sciences education at Redeemer, will set students up for meaningful careers.
Zantingh sees much opportunity for the arts at Redeemer. “This is a really unique moment in Redeemer’s history; we are on a growth trajectory. We’re the largest we’ve ever been and we are aiming to continue that growth,” he says. This atmosphere has Zantingh thinking about how to expand and strengthen Redeemer arts. “It’s not a case of more of the same. [We’re asking] ‘How do we prepare our students for life and work in a variety of industries and organizations? How do we make the art gallery a more engaging space? How do we prepare music and worship students for leadership and service in the church? How do we get our students showing off their excellent work to a broad audience so that when they graduate, they can become voices in those fields and continue to do the good work that they’re already doing?’”
“ … at Redeemer we want to see every career held up as worthy of Christ-like work … These are moments to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs it. That was really appealing to me coming here.”
The university’s support for the arts has Zantingh energized as well. He’s pleased that there is investment in the visual art program, an area he feels Christians can sometimes be suspicious of. He sees the engaging uses of the art gallery, music performances and other exhibitions of student work as something exciting to build on. New developments in the recently updated music and worship program have students getting more practical experience with participation in chapel worship leadership and music ministry internships. And in the English programs where Zantingh teaches, he hopes to expand practical connections for students as well. “We want to plug our students into the Hamilton writing community, internships, and with people and places where they will thrive and become Jesus’ ambassadors out there in the world.”
Ultimately, that is Zantingh’s hope for all students as he leads the arts. “ … at Redeemer we want to see every career held up as worthy of Christ-like work … These are moments to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs it. That was really appealing to me coming here.”