Brianna Taveras
Wiktoria Kowalczyk
Christopher Barrera
Abigail Niyazov
St. John's University
Charles Wankel
Keep this story going! Share below!
Arctic Haven Studio was founded by two sisters, Anna and Kelly, who were raised in Alaska. The two sisters expressed that even after growing up, the richness and rawness of Alaska always remained as a guide and force in their lives. Their life growing up in Alaska is what inspired them to create Artic Haven. Arctic Haven Studio creates art that resembles their childhood in Alaska. The art work is inspired by the natural world values, the landscape, and wildlife in Alaska. The sisters want to give back to Alaska so they decided to support Alaskan conservation and Education, therefore they donate 10% of their profits to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC).
Arctic Haven was founded by two sisters Anna and Kelly, who were raised in Alaska. They were raised going fishing, berry picking and being outside for both enjoyment and subsistence. They have also had much love for Alaska, and were taught to value wildlife and nature. Even after the two sisters grew up they have always wanted to contribute back to Alaska and it always remained as a force and guide in their life which gave them purpose and inspired them to open their business.
One of the sisters Anna is a wildlife ecologist by training and an artist, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago during COVID that they decided to start the business. The sisters Kelly and Anna decided that it is a good idea because that way Anna could share her art and also use it as a platform to connect people to nature and specifically Alaska. The business is online but they do sell wholesale to some brick and mortar stores in Alaska. The business structure is that Anna does the art and Kelly does most of the business work, while they divide the rest of the task based on skills and abilities.
The sisters value wildlife and nature very much, which is what made them begin their profession in the first place and also made them want to give back to Alaska. They decided to support Alaskan conservation and Education, therefore they donate 10% of their profits to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC).
The Arctic Haven name comes from the intersection of the harshness of wild Alaska and the warmth of their community. They think it is essential to remember that they are always amazed at how wildlife carves out homes for themselves. Anna’s hope for Arctic Haven Studio is that her art would invite others into the amazing Alaskan world that she knows and loves while reminding them of their own experiences outdoors and with others. She wants to share the life lessons and lasting memories that come from time in the outdoors, both in solitude and in company. Anna and Kelly have an overarching goal of connecting nature to the individuals it affects.
They believe and support Alaska’s conservation and education. So they donate 10% of profits to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC). AWCC takes in orphaned and injured animals year-round and provides them a forever home. The sanctuary maintains over 200 acres of spacious habitats for resident animals to feel at home displaying their natural behavior as education ambassadors for their species. It is common for visitors to see brown bears swimming, moose strutting, wood bison roaming, muskox playing, wolves posing, porcupines climbing, and more. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located in Portage Valley and is surrounded by the Chugach Mountain Range and Turnagain Arm Inlet.
The Arctic Haven Studio provides an amazing chance to raise the appreciation of culture as it sets the land and wildlife, which are unique to Alaska, in an artistic medium most of the time. The art from the Arctic Haven Studio joins the people with the abundance that is in the Alaskan environment and further stirs up that emotion of longing and nostalgia similar to what they experience from their times in the great outdoors and with others.
Online or wholesale in Alaska, Arctic Haven contributes to the state's economy through the way they offer their art. The business affords an opportunity for individuals to reach high-quality art, whereas selling wholesale benefits local retailers. They also support sustainable resourcing by working hard to get sustainable materials to use for their art.
The other way through which Arctic Haven Studio educates people about Alaska's environment is through art. The products of this studio narrate in visual form, telling about the beauty of the land in Alaska and raising attention to the need to conserve it.
They are committed to giving 10% of their profits back to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), which directly supports their efforts of rehabilitating and conserving for the benefit of Alaskan wildlife. This investment gives AWCC the opportunity to provide lifelong care to orphaned and injured animals while at the same time educating the public on native species.
By emphasizing the warmth of the Alaskan community and the passion they have for their local environment, Arctic Haven helps unify nature and wildlife lovers. Their art celebrates shared values and experiences that can encourage collective action toward conservation.
The Arctic Haven studio presents an aspect that generates a high range of business advantages, being both intrinsic and deliberate, thus making it unique and contributing to its success.
The first thing is the unique branding and market differentiation. Anchored in the foundation of its artistic vision to the natural beauty of Alaska and personal experiences of the founders, it presents a branding unique and authentic in nature. This lures in consumers on a search for meaningful art with roots in genuine stories.
The next thing that benefits Artic Heaven is its collaborative approach. The sisters apply their individual strengths through collaboration. Anna makes the art, and Kelly runs the business. In that partnership, they have managed to create good art without getting in each other's way and do well in business.
The last thing is community engagement and networking. Arctic Haven opens doors to collaborative marketing through AWCC, including partnerships and networking opportunities with other local conservation efforts. In this way, Arctic Haven gets the chance to develop community presence and positive community relations, hence availing opportunities in the future. All these are brought together to form the backbone of the business strategy of Arctic Haven Studio towards continued growth and impact.
With art, it plays a crucial role in society by fostering empathy, sparking dialogue, and challenging perspectives. It brings people together, encourages cultural understanding, and can address social issues, promoting awareness and change. Anna sees art as a powerful tool for communication and reflection, creating a platform for social engagement and expression. She gave her work as gifts to other people and it shows to be much more than a gift as it becomes personal and often timeless. Usually, with art, it can lead to emotions and memories, creating a lasting impact on the recipient. It's a gift that can be cherished for years to come, serving as a reminder of the bond between the giver and the receiver.
Get stories of positive business innovations from around the world delivered right to your inbox.
