In February of 2007, young professionals who shared an interest in art and social justice, Angela Fabregas and Laura Betancur, began exchanging ideas on a topic that was important to both of them; using art as a major tool in social change. The two young women created ARTERED in January, 2008, a project that supports new artists who are truly passionate about their work, thereby creaing a greater awareness of the creative, artistic community found in New York City.

At this point, they did not know how to incorporate a social cause, which they knew would be a powerful addition to the project. Soon enough, in conversations they had with Angela's sister, Andrea Nino, she began coming up with ways to create educational, art oriented programs to be held in Latin America in order to address violence, especially in their beloved country of Colombia. ARTERED was then able to define its identity as a project that not only promoted culture, but also contributed to the social development of Latin America.