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About Us
As of 2024, Artful Life is no longer undertaking new projects. We are so very proud of the work we've done with the hundreds of community members and dozens of artists who worked to nurture healthy, thriving, equitable, and beautiful neighborhoods.
Artful Life has been dedicated to transformational change through the beauty and power of creative collaboration. We know that community revitalization, particularly in communities of color, is a collective process fueled by art, creativity, intentional action, and a thoughtful approach.
"Creative making is an alert practice where ethics and aesthetics become interanimating, a practice that includes an attentive, respectful love for others as well as oneself." (Ruth Porritt, "Pueblo Sculptor Roxanne Swentzell" in Unmaking Race, Remaking Soul (SUNY Press, 2007).
Artful Life's projects have engaged community members (of all ages), artists, cultural workers, and partner organizations in long-term creative collaboration and community engagement. The resulting works of art express a powerful sense of people and place. Projects also generated social cohesion, individual and collective leadership, and community working teams.
Take a look at our arts-based community development model here.
Artful Life has partnered with a wide range of community-based organizations, municipal agencies, iindividuals, groups, and artists and has been supported by a broad range of funders, supporters, and volunteers who made our work possible. We're so grateful for the many diverse communities that have informed our process, guided our work, and contributed to the collective knowledge that is at the center of transformational change.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Founding Director: Valerie Martínez
Recent Project Directors: Jenice Gharib, Andrew Fearnside, Rebeca Baca Alderete, Hernan Gomez Chavez, Maria Teresa Bustamante
Recent Administrative Staff: Kearsley Higgins, Jennifer Lucero, Miranda Tully-Colon
Fiscal Sponsor/Agent: Center of Southwest Culture, Arturo Sandoval (Executive Director), Kateri Zuni, Catherine Baca, Noemi Davila (Finance Director), Alejandra Zazueta, Marco Antonio Nieto, Perla Romero, Jose Castro, Emma Q. Dewey, Marco Sandoval, Leila Sonora Murrieta, Dakota Vigil, Maria D. la Luz Martinez, Yvone Martinez, Claudia Sierra, Alejandra Gamon, Fernanda Barraza, and Analeyi Sanchez. Board of Directors: Alan Marks, Maria Martinez Sanchez, Juan Abeyta, Dr. Shelley Valdez, James Povijua.