ArtLink CREATIVITY | COMMUNITY | CONFIDENCE
Founder of ArtLink, Maria Haycraft, is quite literally the definition of bubbly. Smiling brightly, and always having a kind word to say, she seemingly effortlessly floats around our community, inspiring, uplifting, and loving others. ArtLink, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is a no cost creative arts program for the children and youth of Clarksville. ArtLink aims to provide a safe environment for young people to learn and explore their creativity through working with various mediums of art. In addition to providing creative space, Maria and her team at ArtLink love to host events.
that will help them to get from where they are in life to where they want to be.” ArtLink began as a mobile art studio touring around Clarksville, giving the opportunity for people to explore their creative sides at community events and festivals. In 2019, ArtLink added a brick-and-mortar location on Strawberry Alley, and in 2020 expanded into an even larger space across the street. ArtLink currently has both the physical and mobile studios, and Maria is always looking to expand.
“It’s about igniting passion and building character through creativity,” Maria says. She explains further by telling VIP, “My passion for the arts is so strong because, well, it was the arts that God gave me as a tool to help me through my lowest and worst time in my life and now I have it to use to help others so they can also use it to help them through whatever they may be going through.”
She tells VIP, “My mission and vision are really continuing to grow what we have. I’d love to be able to develop more of the programs I’ve had on the back burner that I haven’t been able to just yet because we still need more funding to make them a reality....I’d also love to have a larger facility that offers our community a collaborative creative space with resources like equipment and tools that the community may not have access to on their own but can have access to through us so they can learn to use them and create or even use them to help with things for their own advancement in life. For example, I’d love to have a product photo lab and a podcast booth and things of that nature so the creative ideas can get played out.”
“I don’t know who walks in my doors where they came from or where they are going but I can for sure tell you while they are with us they will feel like they are where they belong, they will be able to create in a safe space and explore something that will help break down walls that hold them back and build up confidence to try something
“Many people have ideas and dreams to do things but don’t feel it’s achievable because some of it seems unrealistic, at ArtLink that dream becomes a reality because we have the gear and can show you how to use it. Now that’s a life changing opportunity! That’s what we are all about.”
From ArtLink’s first fashion show event in 2012 to Chalkwalk, to now, their capacity has expanded immensely. Currently, ArtLink is thrilled to be in the early stages of developing a three-day arts festival called Artsville.
VIP CLARKSVILLE MAGAZINE'S BEST OF THE BEST VOTING BEGINS MAY 9TH • 55
