The Urban Artist Network was founded in 1999 to address the unique needs of emerging urban artists and organizations that produce art or present cultural events, conduct outreach efforts to reach new audiences, improve community life though the arts, and foster education through the arts.  This art-service organization enriches the community by supporting individual visual, literary, and performing artists by providing them with access to educational and professional resources while creating a network for communication and collaboration that promotes the development and inspiration of creative culture.