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help us get "big blue" on the road!

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hello, my name is doriana diaz and I am a multi-dimensional artist and cultural producer based in Germantown, philadelphia, pa. I was gifted this bus by OURarchive215.



my manifestation for this project is to gain financial assistance in the journey of reconstructing the school bus known as "big blue". my hope for big blue to become a community center for channels of artistry to be safely and intentionally explored. I want big blue to be split into a motor home and traveling teaching artist sanctuary for BIPOC and queer creatives to be able to utilize as a space for innovation and exploration.

big blue would be the vehicle used for teaching artist tours. these tours would allow for the opportunity for teaching artists to travel and connect with others in different places across the country. each new place, the bus will be open the bus for teaching artists to connect with big blue in intimate ways.

community partners would serve as board members of big blue. these particular people would be handpicked from my personal network, each living in a different city that I want to connect with via big blue. these community partners would help give me insight into programming models, ideas, and visions for the future. their personal location would also be the main stops on the tours.

I grew up in philly and now works as a full-time teaching artist. my areas of practice include collage and bookmaking, sometimes as individual genres but also as a combination of practices through memory work and archival traditions. I have led workshops with over 10 branches of the philadelphia library, the united states botanical gardens, the african american museum, rutgers, the colored girls museum, the brandywine museum, of art, uarts league, mural arts, and various other well-known organizations, nonprofits, and institutions across the city. I will be taking on the role of teaching artist/program coordinator for big blue. my role will be to organize, maintain, and develop the schedule and structure of the teaching artist tours and community partners.

big blue has been gutted, some windows have been turned into walls, and the flooring has been bought to begin the reconstruction process. we hope to add a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, plenty of storage, and an open floor plan with a large table for classes/workshops to be held.










there are many steps that need to be taken in order to get her fully operational. your donation would help me to

  • consult with a mechanic to help us determine what needs to be fixed
  • insurance/ registration
  • hire a mechanic to do the work to help us with operational maintenance
  • hire help to put down the flooring
  • hire a contractor to assist us with the electrical maintenance/ start the building process
  • purchase materials for all bus renovation needs (wood, furniture, bedding, etc...)

any donation amount is much appreciated. if you are unable to donate at this time please pass this fundraiser on to your networks. you may also donate time, energy, and effort as a volunteer during cleaning/building days! (dates tba)

feel free to contact me with any helpful information or resources.

instagram:
@bydorianadiaz

thank you so much! we can't wait to have big blue on the road!
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $250
    • 1 yr
  • Mara Imms
    • $25
    • 1 yr
  • Aqueene Wilson
    • $25
    • 1 yr
  • Thomas Lees
    • $50
    • 1 yr
  • Jasmine Franklin
    • $25
    • 1 yr
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Organizer

Doriana Diaz
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA

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