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2 For the past eleven years I have been honoured to lead the cathedral's visual arts programme. During this time the cathedral has provided a spectacular and spiritually uplifting backdrop to a series of wonderful and occasionally challenging installations and exhibitions. The power of art in our cathedral is the power to communicate beyond boundaries and between communities. Visual art can transcend the limitations of language and has the ability to reveal to us new ways of seeing, feeling and thinking. Our pioneering Arts Policy at the cathedral seeks to use the medium of visual art to inspire and allow contemplation of the works of art in a sacred place. Within this context the engagement may offer new perspectives; challenging conventional orthodoxies, provoking dialogue and debate. Churches have employed the visual arts for centuries, to celebrate their faith and communicate their history, whilst offering a critique of that faith. Art has the power to attract, engage and encourage people who are both within and outside the formal structure of faith, belief and belonging. Salisbury Cathedral was built 800 years ago, taking only 38 years to complete. This magnificent gothic building set in the UK's largest Cathedral Close is one of the world's iconic works of architecture, welcoming more than 250,000 visitors every year who come to marvel and experience the special atmosphere of this unique environment. For many, a particular attraction is the presence of an original 1215 Magna Carta in the Cathedral's Chapter House. 2020 marks the 800th anniversary since the first foundation stone was placed at Salisbury Cathedral. The historic impact of that moment remains and resonates today, not only with the presence of the magnificent cathedral but also in the city of Salisbury which evolved around it from medieval times to become the thriving contemporary community it is today. The concept for the exhibition Celebrating 800 years of Spirit and Endeavour, is informed by the influence of ordinary people who came together in the spirit of faith to achieve something extraordinary. This expression of the potential that humankind has consistently shown over eight centuries represents the enterprise and effort that led to the building of Salisbury Cathedral and inspired the narrative of this exhibition. Collectively the works explore the human condition in many different ways, seeking to understand what it is about human beings and faith that can inspire such extraordinary vision and creativity. The art installations challenge us to reflect on ourselves and our legacy. I hope this exhibition will assist us with discussions about what it is that empowers people to harness their strengths, to find their voices and feel addressed, to echo the effort and achievement made by the ordinary people who built a city and a cathedral of such distinction. I would like to recognise the tremendous and unstinting backing I have received from the Dean and Chapter and my colleagues at the cathedral over the years. I must also record my particular gratitude to the many people who have made this exhibition possible. The enthusiastic support of the artists and their galleries, as well as estates and foundations, has allowed us to gather a significant collection of works of art by some of the greatest artists of our time. Foreword by Jacquiline Creswell, Visual Arts Advisor and Curator of this exhibition