[AR]INK & Mobile Creative Center

[AR]INK & Mobile Creative Center campaign aims to bridge the digital divide in impacted communities in South Bay San Diego and Imperial County (e.g., San Ysidro, Calexico), where a tenth of minority residents do not have access to a computer. The COVID pandemic disproportionately affected low-income communities like San Ysidro, highlighting the digital divide and creating lifelong impacts on learning loss and economic well-being. Through two “hands-on” workshops that will travel with a mobile art exhibition, the campaign intends to survey community members before/after workshops to gauge qualitative impact. As part of the community outreach component, [AR]INK will give community members access to the latest augmented reality and virtual reality technology in the market and allow community members to engage with the technology and learn about app development, artificial intelligence, computer coding, and the creation of 3D spaces. The campaign will also feature an art exhibition in the Mobile Gallery, composed of work submitted by local artists through a call-to-artists for works related to social & environmental justice, civic engagement, and new media art. The art exhibition component of the campaign will feature artwork that brings awareness to civic engagement and voting, environmental justice about vehicular border crossings, and enhance the community's understanding of new technology in the arts.