Who We Are
The Create Commission (TCC) is an organization that provides the foundation for artists to be deeply connected and grounded in their faith and craft, while helping churches and organizations meaningfully integrate the arts into their communities.
At the center of our work is our Artist in Residence program, where we gather annual cohorts of artists for spiritual formation, creative development, and missional engagement. Through this program, artists are supported not only in their calling, but grow in their understanding of how their faith, imagination, and vocation align.
Additionally, TCC actively connects artists with churches, nonprofits, and businesses, helping all parties build effective partnerships and pursue missional work together. We work alongside leaders to develop residencies, creative ministries, and contextualized programming that integrate the arts into the life and movement of the Church. Whether it be Sunday gatherings, community building efforts, or mission-driven ventures, our goal is to help build places and spaces where the arts are fully realized as a vital part of Kingdom work.
We believe the arts are essential to cultural and spiritual transformation. Through beauty, collaboration, and embodied expression, artists have a unique ability to reveal truth, challenge assumptions, and create meaningful connections that reach beyond words. TCC exists to cultivate that work, supporting artists and organizations as they bring creativity and faith together in tangible, impactful ways.
The Mission
The Create Commission (TCC) exists to disciple artists in creativity and faith, foster healthy communities among artists and churches, and integrate artists in the missional work of the Church.
The Vision
To see artists empowered to create revelatory art, mobilized alongside the Church, working together to transform culture and advance the Kingdom of God.
The Pioneering Team
Michael Denson | The Builder
Michael earned his MA in Innovation and Leadership from Kilns College and his BA in Photography from The College of Santa Fe. Having 12 years of combined experience as a leader and implementer of innovative initiatives and programs has given him a keen eye for the ways in which creativity connects humanity. Michael recently served as the Executive Director of West Valley Arts Council where he worked with artists, city governments, and local organizations to cultivate arts engagement and enhance the culture of communities in the West Valley.
Gavin Linderman | The Connector
Gavin serves as the lead pastor of Axiom Church. Planted in 2013, Axiom’s story began as a group of traveling artists desiring to center their lives around Jesus. He is an accomplished artist, business owner, church planter, and spiritual director who works to create spaces for people to connect with God. Gavin is passionate about leading a community of believers who spill out of the walls of the church and into the city through new projects, businesses, service, and relationship building with people you wouldn’t expect to find in the church.
Charith Denson | The Integrator
Charith has over 16 years experience in International Development. Her high level of empathy has made her an excellent storyteller and expressive artist. Though she has dabbled in many different artforms and creative ventures, her deep love for culture and connectedness has led her to create mixed media paintings that address identity and promote cultural inclusivity. Charith channels this collective experience, knowledge, and passion through her work as the co-owner of Denson Creative LLC.
Johnny Kerr | The Designer
Johnny is an accomplished artist and art educator. Self-taught in the craft of photography, Johnny cites his lifelong study of art, his graphic design experience, and his appreciation for minimalism as having the largest influences on his work. Johnny’s imagery often explores the abstract qualities of his subjects, placing them, to varying degrees, outside of their literal context. His use of space reflects his affinity for quietude, while his continued evolution of style and subject matter represent an authentic pursuit of curiosity.
