About

We Are Artists Ink

Founded in 2013, Artists Ink is a multidisciplinary arts organization born out of East Salinas, our focus is to produce quality and versatile art that gives a voice to the experiences and history of our community. Artists Ink believes in empowering our youth through use of the arts as a vehicle for personal and social change. By equipping them with professional knowledge and skills we are inspiring the next generation to pursue the arts as a career and value themselves as the unique and dynamic individuals they are. We aspire to provide a space where professional artists and students can experiment, collaborate, and grow.

Mission

Uniting artists to uplift the cultura and histories of our community while pushing the boundaries of art.

INSTIGATE CON

AMOR, CARIÑO

& ENERGIA

We bring care, love, and energy to value you, your story, and your truth.

We cultivate space that embraces vulnerability, to be open, to be respected and to be yourself.

we keep in mind our connection to the earth, at peace with all living things.

EMBOLDEN

CULTURA

We are guided by ancestral wisdom, knowledge, and the spirits of our maestros.

We bring courage, compassion, pride, yoli (“to bring life” in Nahuatl), and responsibility to pass our history.

We touch our indigenous roots and are grounded in the roots of tradition.

We are an embodiment of culture, a mix of cultures, evolving with expeience.

We bring space to embrace the cultures of our community and welcome other cultures.

DISCOVER

IDENTITY &

AWARENESS

We create a place of discovery and reflection, of self, of identity, of history.

we validate your opportunity to explore and claim your identity, with roots of your past, culture and background.

We harness inner light, for direction, to stay grounded, to create your identity, and to discover your unique path.

We uplift and amplify knowledge and awareness of the world around us, to think bigger, and to reshape our narrative.

Youth

Validating youth stories through different mediums of art. By building their leadership skills and helping them find their voice.

Impact

Community

Cultivating community and social awareness.

Arts

Developing impactful art by installing professional practices and proving quality resources.

Racial Equity Statement

Artists Ink’s staff, artists and teachers are a reflection of the community we serve. Predominantly with latinx backgrounds and natives of the Alisal and greater Salinas Valley. We are committed to creating racial equity by developing equitable practices that provide the framework for how we function as an organization and how we serve our community. In a community that is often overlooked and underserved, Artists Ink is committed to raising up the culture and history of our community. By cultivating safe spaces that youth and artists alike feel connected, we are providing a solid foundation, and a grounding space to learn and share. To ensure access to all our students and artists, Artists Ink is committed to providing free programming and services to help our community reach its highest potential. In our on-going pursuit of racial equality, Artists Ink also strives to reflect this practice in how we value our staff and artists by paying them not only fair but competitive wages for their work. Internally, Artists Ink continues to review, and update our policies, programs and services to reflect the needs and diversity of our community.