Return to MGVH homepage
More Links to Useful Online Christian Resources

Sites for Art, Pictures, Music, and Video

NOTE: Be sure to check if you need to obtain permissions to use resources linked at these sites. Contact the site owners. Under Music and Video, note links for obtaining CCLI or CVLI licenses.

Art and Pictures: Bible Related

• Biblical Art on the WWW - Start here first. Great database and has the benefit of thumbnail previews. Search by biblical subject, text, artist, or word
• Textweek.com-art - Second place to look: organized by theme, Scripture text, or lectionary date
• Art and the Bible - A well organized site; search by artwork titles or by Scripture text (full KJV on site); more of a tasteful selection of art than an attempt at comprehensiveness; especially nice section on Rembrandt 
• BiblePlaces.com - Photos of Israel from the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands - free for personal / educational use
• Bible Picture Gallery includes free images
• Church - Free Pictures - FreeFoto.Com - Categories include: church, backgrounds, Bible verses, Bibles, candles, cathedrals, church buildings, church flowers, church music, church window, Easter, graveyard, harvest, remembrance, stained glass, cross
• The Easter Story Links to Art
• Digital Projects Yale Divinity Library: Three Databases:
  • Yale Divinity Digital Image and Text Library
  • EIKON- Image Database for Biblical Studies
  • The AdHoc Image and Text Database on the History of Christianity
• Holy Land Photos - Free images of the Holy Land
• The Spiritual Exercises in Pictures - woodcuts
• The Ecole Initiative Index of Images
• Ian Pollock: Miracles and Parables of Christ
• La página de Cerezo Barredo - free graphics to use organized according to Lectionary Year and Sunday
• Frank Wesley - Indian Christian Artist
• He Qi Arts - beautiful biblical art combining Chinese and Western influences

Art and Pictures: Other

• Flickr! - A photo sharing site; free to join; most photos are free to use; check out the Resonate group for worship media
• Aiwaz.net - Some restrictions but some some excellent prints/graphics in high res. Includes many religious themes.
• Dr. Design's Definitive Design Links List - Look for the list of links to Cheap Stock Photography
• Earth and Moon Viewer
• Free Images - Free Stock Photos
• StockXchng - free stock photos
• Free Stock Photos including a category:
  • FREE CHRISTIAN BIBLE CHURCH PHOTOS
• Photos for Geography
• Hubble Space Telescope Public Pictures
• OpenPhoto.Net
• Web Library - Free Media
• Microsoft Office Clip Art and Media Home Page
• Picasa: This is an outstanding photo organizer and editor, and it's free.
• Free (for personal use) screen capture utilities: ScreenPrint32 or MWSnap 

Music

• To legally use music in a church or other non-profit, you need to obtain a CCLI License. The fees start at $50. CCLI also offers a SongSelect service that provides, lead/chord/vocal sheets, lyrics, and more.
• Spirit of Sound: Explores spiritual and religious themes in popular music and seeks to serve as a tool for the preparation of Christian sermons, discussion groups, or lay interest.
• The Phantom Tollbooth: Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective
• Sweet Chariot- the story of the spirituals
• Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music by Mark Allan Powell: THE encyclopedia of CCM and other Christian-related rock
• Textweek: Use the Scripture index to find the text. Then scroll down for links to Hymns and Music.
• Contemporary Music Resources: Links to docs of topical index, scripture index, and more.

Sites for 'free' music to use with PowerPoints, videos, etc. that are for non-commercial use (as always, there are usually some restrictions; be sure to read the details of the licenses

• Magnatune
• Podsafe Music Network
• PodShow
• Opsound
• Archive.org Netlabels (and especially check the collection of old 78RPMs!)

Videos

• To legally show clips from videos in a church or other non-profit, you need to obtain a CVLI License. License fees start at $199/year and are more for larger churches. The basic license does also include access to ScreenVue which has a searchable database for themes. For additional cost one can also download clips.
• Textweek Movie Index: Includes both a movie title index and a movie theme index. Also use the  to find the text. Then scroll down for links to Movie scenes.
• WingClips: A great site with searching by movie title or by theme. Clips are all nicely edited and can be used for free even without a CVLI license. A free subscription allows 320x240 resolution downloads. A premium subscription allows for 640x480 resolution downloads and more.
• The Work of the People: Visual Media for Mission and Worship: "The Work Of the People is a community of artists who create visual media for the church to re-orient God's people around Jesus' good news and mission to make all things new." There are films, visual liturgy clips, loops, and stills. Some are free, but most are available for individual purchase at around $15.
• GodTube: "GodTube.com is a dynamic community of people who are looking to connect, share, and belong. In its simplest form, GodTube is a video-driven social network where users can explore their faith and the tenets of Christianity."