About Athentikos
You are a
work of art.
Created with purpose. Known and loved by God. With something only you can bring.
That conviction is at the heart of Athentikos. We are a Christian nonprofit inviting people to explore identity, brokenness, and restoration through the experience of making art together.
Our work grew through relationships in Guatemala. Today, Guatemalan leaders, local partners, and international creatives carry it forward through I AM ART.
“Soy arte” means “I am art.” · An installation from the Athentikos archive
Our story · Humble beginnings
A family connection.
A desire to give back.
Scott and Amelia Moore’s connection to Guatemala began with the adoption of their two sons. Guatemala became part of their family’s story, and with that connection came gratitude and a desire to give back to the country.
Missionary friends helped them see more of the needs facing communities in Guatemala. Through those friendships, Scott and Amelia began to understand the country beyond their own adoption journey and consider how they could contribute.
They started with the gifts they had: filmmaking, photography, and storytelling. In 2008, they founded Athentikos, giving that desire to respond a place to grow.
The people they came to know were already serving their communities. Sharing their stories became one way to draw others into the work. Those relationships are part of the foundation Athentikos continues to build on today.
Scott and Amelia Moore · Athentikos founders
Reparando screening · Athentikos film archive
Friends who became part of the story · The Reparando premiere team in Guatemala, 2010.
Stories of restoration
Guatemalans telling
their own stories.
Reparando, which premiered in Guatemala in 2010, follows Guatemalans responding to the legacy of civil war and working toward restoration in their communities.
Becoming Fools follows street-connected youth discovering creative expression through clowning. Across both films, creativity, faith, and human dignity are central to the stories.
A shared creative practice
The story is also
something we make.
I AM ART’s first camp took place in 2010. Through creative workshops, people became participants in a shared experience of making, reflecting, and connecting.
The films and I AM ART express a common conviction: people have stories, gifts, and worth that deserve to be seen. In I AM ART, that conviction takes shape through what people create with their own hands.
Read Amelia’s reflection from 2010 →The thread that continues
Our story includes filmmakers, translators, teachers, artists, volunteers, and local leaders. It continues through the people who return, build relationships, and make room for others to contribute.
Why I AM ART?
We create because
we are created.
Making art gives us a way to explore faith, identity, and restoration.
Our Christian faith teaches that people are made in the image of a creative God. Ephesians 2:10 helps shape our understanding of each person as God’s handiwork, created with purpose.
In I AM ART, making art becomes a way to explore that identity. Materials change, mistakes happen, and something unexpected can emerge. The creative process opens a conversation about our own stories and God’s restoration.
I AM ART
Begin with creativity and the belief that every person has worth and purpose.
I AM CONNECTED
Explore our relationships with God, one another, and the world around us.
I AM BROKEN
Changes to the artwork invite reflection on difficulty, loss, and imperfection.
I AM RESTORED
Rework the materials and explore how something new can emerge from what has changed.
I AM LOVED
Reflect on God’s love, belonging, and the value we carry beyond what we make.
Artmaking at CEIVA · 2026
A collage self-portrait · CEIVA · 2026
What that looks like
Painted papers.
Cut apart. Reimagined.
At CEIVA, students created colorful painted papers, then cut and rearranged them into life-sized self-portraits. The workshop connected the changing artwork with reflection on identity, confusion, and restoration.
The process gave students a tangible way to explore those ideas. The finished portraits carried the marks of what had changed.
See the workshop story →Who carries the work forward
Guatemalan leadership.
Shared responsibility.
Guatemalan artists and mentors lead Soy Arte’s ongoing programs. International I AM ART teams collaborate with local creatives and partner organizations. Both depend on people who know the communities and sustain the relationships.
Guatemala Program Directors
Noe & Kathlyn Chan
Kathlyn began as an I AM ART translator in 2014 and went on to lead camps. At CEIVA in 2026, Noe shared Joseph’s story through first-person storytelling, connecting the biblical account with the week’s creative themes.
Program Training & Curriculum Manager
Rosie Messeder
Rosie joined Athentikos in March 2026 and brings a passion for creativity, art, and faith to the team. Originally from the UK, she and her family have lived as missionaries in Guatemala since 2024. She loves people, printmaking, and coffee.
Creative work at Opal House · 2026
Local partners
Work that continues.
Schools, homes, and community organizations bring their own leadership and ongoing commitments. At Opal House, for example, I AM ART is part of the school’s educational experience, with creative activities shaped for its students.
Our values
How we choose
to show up.
Our values apply to the way we work together as well as the experiences we facilitate.
Faith in Jesus shapes our understanding of creativity, dignity, and service. These commitments give that faith a practical expression.
Authenticity
Make room for honest expression and each person’s unique gifts.
Creativity
Encourage exploration, imagination, and learning through the process.
Humility
Listen, learn from local knowledge, and remain open to being changed.
Well-Being
Care for the emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of life.
Community
Build relationships across differences and recognize each person’s contribution.
Honesty
Speak with integrity and represent people and their stories with care.
Faith
Follow Jesus in the way we create, serve, and relate to one another.
The Good Shepherd community mural · Opal House School · 2026
A shared story, still present
The week ends.
The work carries on.
At Opal House in 2026, students contributed to a shared mural centered on the Good Shepherd. The theme connected with what they had been exploring at school, and the finished artwork remains on the school’s wall.
It is one visible example of a creative experience becoming part of a community’s everyday life. Our reports and stories offer a closer look at the people, activities, and reflections behind the work.
Where the story lives today
One purpose.
Different ways to take part.
In Guatemala, Soy Arte brings Guatemalan artists and volunteers together for creative programs in their communities. International I AM ART Experiences invite visiting creatives to collaborate with local leaders and partners.
Through Art Gatherings, people can begin with a facilitated workshop or explore hosting for their community. Retreats, Story Lab, and internships offer other ways to renew, learn, and contribute.
Find the opportunity that fits you →Before you take part
A clear invitation.
Bring your questions as well as your curiosity.
Talk with our team →Do I need to be Christian?
Christian belief is not required for an Open I AM ART Experience. Athentikos is a Christian organization, and prayer, Scripture, worship, or faith conversations may be part of the experience.
Check the opportunity details for its expectations, and ask our team if you would like to understand how faith will be expressed.
Do I need to be an artist?
Art Gatherings welcome beginners. International Experiences and other opportunities may call for hands-on creative experience or particular skills. Each opportunity explains who it is for and what participation involves.
Is I AM ART therapy?
No. I AM ART is a facilitated, non-clinical creative experience. It does not provide mental-health treatment.
How do you support ongoing work?
Soy Arte provides Guatemalan-led creative programs. International Experiences are organized alongside local partners and support their ongoing work. Explore the Programs page for these different forms of participation, or ask us about a specific partnership.
Where can I learn about accountability?
Athentikos is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Team page introduces staff and the board of directors; impact reports share accounts of the work. Contact our team with questions about organizational information or giving.
The invitation continues
Bring your creativity.
Become part of the story.
Start with an Art Gathering, explore an I AM ART Experience, or help sustain the people and creative work behind the mission.
Giving opens Athentikos’s donation page.