CompassionArt is a charity based in Littlehampton, England founded by songwriter Martin Smith and his wife Anna, with the aim of generating income from works of art to assist in the relief of suffering around the planet.
Retreat in Scotland
Several songwriters met for a retreat in Perthshire, Scotland, set out to write 10-12 songs and, by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs. In addition to those on the GMA Dove Awards, CompassionArt songwriters include Stu Garrard (of Delirious?), Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Darlene Zschech, Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman. Together the songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, 10 Grammy Awards, 118 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs.
This call came through his work Project India, which collects Indian girls from prostitution by offering them any help necessary.
CompassionArt is a studio album by the songwriters' charity of the same name. It features the entire CompassionArt song writing team, Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, Darlene Zschech, Israel Houghton, Michael W. Smith, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu Garrard and charity co-founder Martin Smith, along with several other collaborators. All proceeds from the recording directly benefited charities of the song writers' choosing.
Production
On January 7–11 2008, Martin Smith invited the newly formed CompassionArt team, made up of various CCM artists, to Scotland for a writing retreat. During this time the group wrote 22 songs, 14 of which made their way onto the album.
In February 2008, the majority of the album was recorded at Abbey Road studios in London. Martin Smith also travelled to Uganda in order to visit the Watoto Children's Choir and record their contribution to the album. One of the songs which was recorded was "Fill My Cup." This had previously been written by Delirious? as a potential song for inclusion on Kingdom of Comfort, although it was never released.
Podcasts:
CompassionArt
ALBUMS
- CompassionArt: released: 2009