INK PEOPLE INC

THE DREAMMAKER PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST PROGRAM OF THE INK PEOPLE, WHERE THE INK PEOPLE SERVES AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR ARTS AND CULTURE PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE NORTH COAST REGION AND BEYOND. THESE PROJECTS OFTEN CENTER LEADERSHIP FROM HISTORICALLY UNDER-RESOURCED PEOPLES, ADDRESS UNIQUE COMMUNITY NEEDS, ESTABLISH PLACEMAKING/PLACEKEEPING PRACTICES, AND/OR ARE SOURCES OF INNOVATION. DREAMMAKER PROJECTS CONTINUED TO GROW IN NUMBER AND IN CAPACITY OVER THE 24/25 FISCAL YEAR. INK PEOPLE OFFERED ANOTHER SERIES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS IN GRANT WRITING AND PROGRAM PLANNING AND CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR DREAMMAKER LEADERS TO CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER THROUGH MIXERS. WE CONTINUED THE DREAMMAKER REPRESENTATIVE ON THE INK PEOPLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE ENACTED OUR SECOND ANNUAL REPORT FOR DREAMMAKER PROJECTS AND ARE STARTING TO TRACK DATA FOR THE PROJECTS. WE HIRED A MARKETING DIRECTOR WHO IS SUPPORTING DREAMMAKERS MARKETING THEIR ACTIVITIES. INK PEOPLE STAFF MET WITH DREAMMAKER LEADERS ON A DAILY BASIS, OFFERING CRITICAL ONE ON ONE SUPPORT.

IN 2024/2025, THE INK PEOPLE SUPPORTED COMMUNITY AND PLACE BY CULTIVATING PARTNERSHIPS IN THE EUREKA CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT AND THE HUMBOLDT CREATIVE ALLIANCE WHILE ALSO EXPANDING ITS EFFORTS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ARTISTS, CULTURE KEEPERS, ARTS/CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE INK PEOPLE IMPLEMENTED THE SPEAKING SOULATLUK PROGRAM, AND BROUGHT WIYOT LANGUAGE INTO THE PUBLIC SPACE THROUGH SIGNS ON BUSES (THIS PROJECT HAS CONTINUED INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR). THE INK PEOPLE SERVED AS THE CONVENER FOR THE EUREKA CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT (ECAD) DURING THIS PERIOD, AND THE ECAD EMBARKED ON GRANTMAKING FOR PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT. THE INK PEOPLE ALSO FACILITATED THE DRAFTING OF GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS FOR THE ECAD. ADDITIONALLY, THE INK PEOPLE CONTINUED TO BE A CORE MEMBER OF THE HUMBOLDT CREATIVE ALLIANCE, WORKING TO SECURE FUNDING FROM HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX TO BE REGRANTED TO ARTS AND CULTURE ENDEAVORS IN THE COUNTY. THE INK PEOPLE MANAGED A GRANTING PROCESS AND DISTRIBUTED FUNDS TO PROJECTS THAT PROMOTED ART, CULTURE, AND TOURISM WITH A FOCUS ON OUTDOOR EVENTS. THE INK PEOPLE CONTINUES TO BE THE LOCAL ARTS PARTNER FOR THE CITY OF EUREKA, OFFERING SUPPORT FOR THE EUREKA ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION AND CONSULTING WITH CITY STAFF ON PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE PUBLIC SPACES.