In Fall 2025, my proposed for pop-up community art workshops in Humboldt County was approved by the Board of the Ink People Center for Arts and Culture, and D.I.Y. ART was born!

D.I.Y. ART – an Ink People DreamMaker Project is a growing, community-centered creative initiative rooted in inclusion, collaboration, accessibility, and playful artistic exploration. What began as a pop-up maker spaces project is now expanding into a broader network of creative and educational programming that connects people through art, storytelling, cultural awareness, science, and hands-on learning.

Operating under the Ink People DreamMaker program, D.I.Y. ART partners with local businesses, nonprofits, Tribal organizations, libraries, and government agencies to host free and low-cost workshops that encourage people to gather, create, and engage with one another in meaningful ways.

D.I.Y. ART centers its work around socially engaged, inclusive, open-access creativity. Workshops combine educational themes such as nutrition, citizen science, cultural justice, language revitalization, and environmental stewardship with approachable, low-stakes crafting experiences designed to make people feel welcome regardless of artistic background or experience.

We officially debuted in Humboldt County in February 2026 with a colorful cookie-decorating workshop in Arcata where community members transformed sugar cookies into edible works of art resembling stained glass, tie-dye buttons, and glittering ornaments. The event immediately established the warm, welcoming tone that continues throughout the year, with many attendees lingering long after the workshop ends simply to talk, laugh, and connect with one another.

Since then, D.I.Y. ART has continued to grow through support from the Eureka Cultural Arts District, the American Humanist Association, community sponsorships, and sliding-scale ticket sales intentionally designed to increase accessibility while supporting long-term sustainability. Monthly workshops now take place throughout Arcata and Eureka and include projects ranging from decoupage “hope chests” and zines to awareness-building art installations focused on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis.

At the heart of D.I.Y. ART is the belief that art can help people build relationships, explore ideas, and engage with difficult or important topics in ways that feel welcoming and collaborative rather than intimidating. The workshops intentionally create calm, creative environments where people of many backgrounds and age groups can gather together around shared experiences.

D.I.Y. ART prioritizes accessibility and equity in our planning. Events are ADA-accessible, most workshops are open to all ages, and pricing structures range from free admission to low-cost sliding scale options. Organizers intentionally collaborate with LGBTQIA+, minority-owned, and community-based organizations while working to reach diverse audiences across Humboldt County.

D.I.Y. ART is also expanding far beyond pop-up workshops. The project now hosts California’s Northern-Most Shut Up & Write Group, a weekly meet-up creating dedicated community writing space for local authors, students, creatives, and aspiring writers.

In Summer 2026 D.I.Y. ART is launching a major educational initiative after being awarded a $50,000 California Coastal Commission WHALE TAIL® Grant. The funding supports the development of Native American Coastal Ecology S.T.E.A.M. classroom kits designed to accompany Native American Studies Model Curriculum units in Humboldt and Del Norte County schools. The project includes teacher trainings, a database of Native experts and culture bearers available as classroom speakers, and a best-practices guide for intercultural coastal ecology education.

D.I.Y. ART continues to evolve as a joyful, interdisciplinary, community-driven project where creativity becomes a tool for connection, education, cultural awareness, and collective imagination. Through art-making, storytelling, workshops, science education, and collaborative public events, we are building spaces where people feel welcomed, inspired, and empowered to create together.

Follow ongoing workshops, events, and community updates here: D.I.Y. ART Facebook Page