Mark Making aspires to be an oasis of hope and a catalyst for change

We seek to inspire and provide opportunities for Chattanooga’s marginalized populations to amplify their unique voices and engage in community projects that promote a more equitable future.

We strive to challenge underserved youth and adults, including inner-city youth, teens in foster care, the homeless, people with mental and developmental disabilities, and the incarcerated, to recognize their talents and abilities to affect change in their lives and communities.                                                   

Though each project is different from the next, Mark Making aims to develop innovative arts-based programs that cultivate essential life skills, foster civic engagement, and challenge assumptions of perceived abilities.

 We seek to promote the understanding that in expressing ourselves through visual art, we cultivate a stronger reliance on our instincts- the ability to synthesize input and make appropriate choices.

We believe that the process of creating art encourages the development of soft skills, like patience, resilience, critical thinking, effective communication, and the ability to see the whole picture.

We believe in promoting better representation of minority populations in leadership positions, supporting artists, facilitators, and youth leaders in order that they become strong mentors.

We believe that everyone can make art regardless of age, race, level of education, income, or any other challenges. The creation of art is a universal language that can elevate impactful messages, challenging stigmas and assumptions of both the creator and the viewer. At our core, we believe the building blocks of a strong community are it’s people and investing in them is the forerunner of a brighter, more equitable future- everyone has a mark to make.