RedLine is a proud partner and administrator of the Arts in Society grant. This collaborative program provides grants to both individuals and organizations that use art as a vehicle to promote social justice and community welfare.
We love highlighting our Arts in Society (AiS) grant recipients and all the unique and impactful projects made possible by their grant.
We’re excited continue this series with the 2025 Arts in Society Grantee: Create ayA.
Learn more about Create ayA and how their project áyA Con uplifts the stories, talents, and resistance of Indigenous and other marginalized creators across comics, visual arts, literature, music, fashion, and multimedia.
Tell us about your organization
Create ayA is a nonprofit organization rooted in the mission of uplifting and empowering marginalized artists—especially Indigenous and underrepresented voices—by supporting their creative careers, nurturing cultural reconnection, and actively challenging the colonial frameworks that define data, art, and representation.
We believe that art is not just about self-expression, but a powerful tool for truth-telling, healing, and community building.
Our work centers around creating accessible, equitable platforms where artists can share their stories on their own terms, free from the confines of stereotypical narratives or institutional gatekeeping.
At Create ayA, we envision a world where Indigenous and marginalized communities not only survive but thrive creatively—where their art is valued, their histories respected, and their voices celebrated.
Our work promotes artistic innovation by weaving together traditional knowledge, ancestral art forms, and cutting-edge storytelling methods. Through exhibitions, festivals, workshops, and community collaborations, we are actively building an ecosystem that supports long-term artist development and fosters cultural pride.
Our programming is deeply community-oriented and trauma-informed, ensuring that every space we curate is intentional, safe, and liberating. Whether we are hosting a youth workshop on Indigenous digital arts or organizing our flagship event—áyA Con—we prioritize the values of cultural continuity, artistic excellence, and social transformation.
Tell us about your first project that will utilize your Arts in Society Grant:
Our first project supported by the Arts in Society grant is áyA Con, an Indigenous comic and art festival designed to be much more than just a convention. áyA Con is a creative and cultural gathering that uplifts the stories, talents, and resistance of Indigenous and other marginalized creators across comics, visual arts, literature, music, fashion, and multimedia.
The Arts in Society grant will allow us to scale the festival's impact—reaching more artists, providing better resources, and expanding our programming in ways that are sustainable and community-driven.
At its core, áyA Con centers on cultural reconnection through creative expression. This year’s theme is “RECLAMATION,” embodied in every element of the festival—from the Futurism Fashion Showcase to the Novice Artist Program.
We use artistic platforms to combat Indigenous erasure, amplify authentic narratives, and provide meaningful opportunities for artists to address racial injustice, gender violence, environmental justice, and more.
The festival will feature powerful performances and appearances by artists and changemakers such as Afua Richardson, Rashaad Santiago, and Danielle Boyer (in partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science). Musical acts including the Melissa Ivey Band, Pink Hawks, and Cherokee Social will bring additional energy and cultural vibrancy to the event.
Through events like the Black Light Powwow, Ribbon Skirt Contest, and Cosplay Contest sponsored by Meow Wolf, áyA Con becomes a platform not only for entertainment but for justice, reclamation, and celebration. The AiS grant directly supports these creative spaces—funding artist stipends, venue access, cultural materials, and community outreach.
“We use artistic platforms to combat Indigenous erasure, amplify authentic narratives, and provide meaningful opportunities for artists to address racial injustice, gender violence, environmental justice, and more.”
What’s next in the pipeline for your organization? What other projects are you dreaming up for next year, and how will your Arts in Society grant help to support these efforts?
Looking ahead, Create ayA is developing a year-round pipeline of artist development, community engagement, and collaborative storytelling.
We are in the early stages of planning áyA Lab, an artist residency and incubator program focused on supporting Indigenous and BIPOC artists working in comics, gaming, fashion, and speculative storytelling. This program will offer mentorship, studio space, and opportunities for publication and exhibition. We hope to host this in our gallery space Creative Nations in Boulder or in our makerspace location in Denver which is TBD.
We are also dreaming up a “Data as Ceremony” initiative that reclaims how cultural data is collected, visualized, and shared. This project will explore Indigenous methodologies for storytelling, archiving, and memory-making—challenging colonial paradigms and inviting artists to reshape how knowledge is held and communicated.
In 2025 and beyond, we hope to expand the team behind áyA Con and be able to fully compensate all participating artists including our panelists, designers and models.
The Arts in Society grant is a vital launchpad for this vision, helping us build the foundational infrastructure to sustain our work, train emerging leaders, and attract long-term support.
What was your experience like when applying for an Arts in Society grant? What tips would you share with artists looking to apply?
Applying for the Arts in Society grant was a deeply affirming process. It gave us the opportunity to reflect on our values, refine our mission, and articulate the powerful impact of arts-centered community work.
The process encouraged us to think strategically about how art can intersect with healing, education, and advocacy—and how grant funding can be a catalyst for collective liberation.
For artists considering applying, our advice is this: lead with your community. Center the people and places that inspire you. Be specific about your vision, and don’t be afraid to challenge dominant narratives. Arts in Society is looking for projects that are bold, rooted, and transformative—not perfect or overly polished.
Also, gather support early. Talk to your community. Collaborate with other artists. Invite mentors and elders into your visioning process. When your application reflects real relationships and lived experience, it becomes more than a grant proposal—it becomes part of the movement.
Arts in Society 2024 Grantee Highlight: Tri Town Arts
Learn more about Tri Towns Arts and how they bring art experiences to youth on the plains to deepen connections within rural communities.
Administered by RedLine, Arts in Society (AiS) is a grant program supporting cross-sector work through the arts across Colorado.
