Success, to me, is about creating meaningful impact through the power of art and culture. It is not just a personal achievement—it is a commitment to uplifting others, amplifying underrepresented voices, and fostering spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. As a first-generation student pursuing a Master of Arts in Arts Administration and Policy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, success means transforming my passion for the arts into a force for equity, accessibility, and community empowerment. My academic journey has taught me that success is not linear. It is built on perseverance, adaptability, and a dedication to growth, even in the face of challenges. Growing up in Chicago, I witnessed firsthand how access to the arts could inspire creativity and hope in communities like mine, while its absence often perpetuated inequities. This realization fueled my desire to pursue a career where I could bridge this gap and make art more accessible to those who have traditionally been excluded from cultural spaces. My experiences as an art history tutor, gallery assistant, community organizer, and arts administrator have given me a holistic perspective on how the arts can bridge divides and inspire progress. I’ve worked on projects that connect diverse audiences with cultural institutions, such as developing sensory bags for inclusive museum engagement and translating visitor materials into Spanish to ensure broader accessibility. These initiatives have taught me how small, intentional efforts can remove barriers and create environments where everyone can participate in and benefit from the arts. Each role has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of the arts as a tool for social change. For me, success is about making art and culture a resource for all, not a privilege for the few. This belief drives my goal to lead programs and initiatives that prioritize inclusion and representation within the cultural sector. I aim to design policies and programs that remove barriers and ensure that everyone—regardless of their background—can see themselves reflected in cultural spaces and feel empowered to participate in the creative process. Since beginning my master’s program, I have made significant strides toward achieving these goals. I’ve expanded my knowledge of arts administration practices, studied how cultural institutions can foster equity, and explored innovative ways to engage underserved communities. The opportunity to collaborate with peers and mentors who share my passion for the arts has been invaluable. I’ve also contributed to community-centered projects that demonstrate how art can promote understanding and empathy across diverse audiences. While academic success is one measure of my journey, I believe true success lies in my ability to use my education and skills to make a tangible difference. This scholarship would provide crucial support as I continue to pursue this vision. By lessening the financial burden of my studies, I can focus more fully on advancing my goals and contributing to projects that amplify marginalized voices in the arts. Ultimately, success is about creating a legacy of opportunity and representation. It means paving the way for others—particularly those from underserved backgrounds—to see themselves as part of the cultural landscape. I hope to be a leader who ensures that the arts remain a universal language for connection, empowerment, and progress, and this opportunity would help me bring that vision to life.

Art and culture have always been central to my identity. Growing up as a bilingual, first-generation student in Chicago, I was surrounded by the stories and struggles of my community. Art became my lens for understanding history, amplifying underrepresented voices, and building connections. It wasn’t just an aesthetic pursuit—it was a call to action. This passion has guided me to pursue a career in arts administration, where I aim to foster equity, accessibility, and empowerment through the arts. My journey began with my undergraduate studies in Fine Arts and Art History at Northeastern Illinois University, where I explored how art reflects and shapes societal values. These studies were not only academic but also deeply personal, as I saw how art could challenge narratives and advocate for change. This realization led me to pursue roles that combined creative engagement with community impact. From working as an art history tutor and gallery assistant to serving as a community organizer, I gained firsthand experience in using art as a tool to educate, inspire, and connect people across different backgrounds. Currently, as a Master of Arts student in Arts Administration and Policy program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I am honing the skills needed to bring meaningful and sustainable change to the cultural sector. I am particularly interested in creating programs and policies that prioritize inclusion and accessibility. My work developing sensory bags and translating museum materials into Spanish has taught me the importance of removing barriers and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome. These experiences fuel my desire to continue advocating for equitable practices within arts institutions. I hope to make a difference by bridging the gap between art and community. Whether through creating inclusive educational programs, securing funding for grassroots cultural organizations, or leading strategic initiatives in major institutions, my goal is to ensure that art is a resource for all, not a privilege for the few. I believe that art has the power to inspire change and foster empathy, and I want to be at the forefront of making this power accessible to underserved communities. Ultimately, my personal motivation stems from a desire to honor the communities that shaped me and to pave the way for others like me to feel represented and valued in cultural spaces. Receiving the Wendy Alders Cartland Scholarship reinforced my belief that financial barriers should never hinder artistic dreams. It is my hope to pay this generosity forward by creating opportunities for others to thrive in the arts. I am driven by the belief that art can transform lives and society. My dream is to lead with purpose, ensuring that cultural spaces are vibrant, inclusive, and reflective of the diverse voices that make up our world. This isn’t just a career for me; it’s a lifelong commitment to making art a cornerstone for connection, understanding, and progress.

Everyone feels depressed at least once in their life and it’s not always one big dramatic event as seen on film. Usually, it’s a slow progression of subtle changes that lead towards alienation and numbness. I started to feel detached from places I would be in everyday and should feel safe in. My art is a way to express how my emotions manipulate my point of view of everyday life. I want the feeling to be the main focus in my artwork; the elephant in the room that can not be avoided anymore. Yet, I still want there to be a sense of distance between the paintings and the viewer. By playing around with vision and the way focus moves in and out from different parts of the paintings, it emphasizes a fog clouding over the scenes and creating a feeling on melancholy. A first person perspective allows the audience to see these places through my eyes and lets them into what goes on in my head. Using oil paint makes it easier to blend colors together and allows the paintings to have a good flow. Creating a dirt color with warm hues help me illustrate how tricky and messy emotions can be. It’s easy to lose ourselves in our emotions that we forget to really see what is going on day to day. Sometimes these feelings get overwhelming that painting it is easier than verbalizing them.

My work consists of three oil paintings of home and a self portrait. The thought of one’s own emotions turning against themselves, is something I felt was happening to me. I started to feel detached from places I would be in everyday and should feel safe in. With the paintings, I want the feeling to be the main focus; the elephant in the room that could not be avoided anymore. However, I still want there to be a sense of distance between the paintings and the viewer. By playing around with vision and the way focus moves in and out from different parts of the paintings, emphasizes a fog clouding over scenes and makes the place feel melancholic. A first person perspective allows the audience to see these places through my eyes and lets them into what goes on in my head. Using oil paint makes it easier to blend colors together and allows the paintings to have a good flow. Creating a dirt color with warm hues help me illustrate how tricky and messy emotions can be. It’s easy to lose ourselves in our emotions that we forget to really see what is going on day to day. Everyone feels depressed at least once in their life and it’s not always one big dramatic event how it is portrayed in movies. Normally it is a slow progression of subtle changes that lead towards alienation and numbness. After a while, this mentality shifts the way you see the outside world and it also changes the way you see yourself.

I came to the United States just in time to start kindergarden. My early memories of art revolve around the innocent need to create and share happiness with my family. At the time, I wasn’t aware that the support from my parents when I drew came from the joy they felt that I was in an environment that encouraged creativity. Apparently, the school system back in Ecuador is different. As I got older, I learned that not everyone is given the same freedom to express themselves and why my parents' effort to contribute in nurturing this new environment was important to them. I began to understand that the role of the arts extended past personal expression and got an appreciation for its role in representing communities and in paving the way for social change. I have been captivated by its ability to shape, provoke, and transform society ever since. To make my contribution to the existing efforts driving progress, I am pursuing Arts Administration and Policy programs for my graduate studies. As an undergraduate student, my class: Art History: Methods and Research introduced me to the potential that arts administration has to bridge gaps and promote inclusivity. This drove me to seek an opportunity as a gallery assistant at The Fine Arts Center Gallery from my university. Its art exhibitions and cultural events feature students and local artists, serving as a space that shows work from underrepresented groups and promotes conversation around social issues. This gave me hands-on experience in planning, promotion, and management. The exposure to the intricate workings of the arts industry in a culturally diverse setting also showed me the impact that thoughtful administration has on a community. However, it was during an internship at Davis Square Park, a local nonprofit organization, that my commitment to this field truly solidified. Working alongside passionate individuals who were dedicated in making the arts accessible to underserved communities, I witnessed how well-crafted programs and initiatives could empower individuals from all walks of life, providing them with a platform to express themselves and engage in cross-cultural dialogue. This experience reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of art and solidified my resolve to pursue a career in Arts Administration. As I enter my graduate studies in Arts Administration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I am interested in advocacy and social justice within the art world. Growing up in this Chicago since the age of five, I have personally witnessed its diversity along with the imbalance of resources that limit representation and opportunities across varying neighborhoods in Chicago. My goal is to aid underrepresented communities and their creative expression like it once helped me. The program's emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and its strong connections to the arts community align with my aspirations to collaborate with artists, organizations, and policymakers in shaping the future of our society. Looking ahead, using my position as a leader within the arts administration, will help me provide opportunities to communities that are lacking in resources and create spaces for young children and artists to learn more about art. My journey into Arts Administration and Policy has been driven by a profound belief in the power of the arts to inspire, connect, and remodel communities. I am excited to become part of this field and continue to learn and grow. Pursuing my graduate studies at SAIC will give me the knowledge and experience to shape me into a leader in this field that can make a meaningful impact.