transformative arts was founded in 2006 by two foreign-born American citizens, Drs jill moniz and Carlos Silveira. With student service learning programming in Cambodia, Mexico, India and Guatemala, the organizational focus was on vulnerable populations, specifically women and children who could benefit from a direct, personal relationship with arts in order to hone and extend civic participation.

In 2008 they formed a partnership with the University of Évora where developed close ties with arts faculty to develop international programming that engaged students and communities in art making and civic awareness.

In 2011, the organization grew to include local Los Angeles populations, specifically the homeless and communities at risk from gentrification. In 2012, Silveira retired and moniz reimagined transformative arts as an organization that supported communities as well as professional artists with the idea that each constituency could strengthen the other through long-term, immersive collaboration. 

In 2019, moniz reengaged her partnerships in Portugal, and created new collaborations in Paris and Italy. In addition, she partnered with a passionate groups of LA arts professionals to form robust strategic programming to bring a site-specific focus to LA County communities in need.

transformative arts is now a community of people working to build and sustain visual literacy for the common good through art making initiatives.

Monica Nouwens photographed the artists in front of works by Mae Engron, Jenny Hager, Manuel Lopez and Miguel Osuna.