Our Story
In a small village in Guatemala, a spirited French woman named Martine Kellett recognized the transformative power of art in addressing environmental challenges. As the Executive Director of the New England Biolabs Foundation, she observed that many grantee organizations struggled to engage communities effectively. This realization sparked the founding of ArtCorps in 2006, a program dedicated to harnessing art as a tool for community engagement, education, and advocacy.
Over the years, talented artists traveled to Central America, partnering with grassroots organizations to create impactful art that resonated with local communities. From marching with women to advocate for their rights to directing plays that empowered youth, the artists used their creativity to inspire change. In 2015, the organization evolved into the Creative Action Institute (CAI), focusing on cultivating leadership and advocacy skills among grassroots leaders worldwide.