WHO ARE WE?
The D.O.S.E. Collective is a 501(c)(3) organization located in the Winston Salem area of the Triad, in central North Carolina. Founded in 2022, DOSE aims to provide community, creativity, and resources for artists in the area; with particular interest in platforming creators from under-represented communities including BIPOC & LGBTQIA+. We offer resources & opportunities for artists in multiple disciplines to create, showcase, and share with their community; as well as exploratory events for artists to network & collaborate. Our location at 606 Trade St. in downtown Winston offers artistic education and expression, as well as gallery space and weekly events. Moving forward we plan to expand into larger endeavors such as scaled art installations, and providing up and coming artists with affordable housing. With a combination of no-cost and paid programming, our goal is to champion the artistic profession by paying artists fair & livable wages while also remaining accessible to the community and every person in it. We hope to grow into a creative force for good among the community, and a beacon for progress in the City of Arts & Innovation. We look forward to meeting you along the way!
Taja Seafus / Founder and President
Our Founder & President, Taja Seafus (She/They) leads this team with care an integrity. She is an alumni of The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Class of 2019) with a BFA in Design and Production. During her time at school she did out-of-the-box designs and challenged new ways of experiencing theatre through abstract and immersive design. Now, as an creative entrepreneur, she strives to provide safe spaces for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC creatives and support local artists. Taja's dream for The D.O.S.E. Artist Collective is to provide gallery, exhibition and creatives spaces for the never ending cycle of meeting new people and connecting with the community and provide affordable housing for artists in the Winston-Salem area. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with her hair and finding a new craft to hyper-fixate on.
Executive Board
Leo (they/he) has lived in Winston-salem, NC for almost a decade. After leaving UNcsa, where they met taj, they immersed themselves in the local art scene and have been on the board of D.O.S.E. since the beginning (2022). Leo prides themselves on their ability to organized artists, run high stress events, and being the last minute call whenever an art organization needs help.Leo Morello / Vice President
Alex (HE/THEY) is a native of upstate NY, but has called Winston home since 2020. A trained actor and arts educator, Alex has recently transitioned to a role as a business owner, having started Overall Repair and Remodeling, a kitchen and bath remodeling outfit in Winston Salem. When not running between design meetings or rehearsals, Alex practices Tai Chi and works to grow food with his partner and roommates at their communal housing project. Alex Bodine / Secretary
Joshua Ridley (he/him) serves as our Chair of Advancement, leading development and fundraising efforts. He has a background in marketing for the performing arts currently serving as marketing systems coordinator for UNCSA. Joshua Ridley / Advancement Chair
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
With a passion for storytelling and digital marketing prowess, Mandez (he/him) has spearheaded efforts to revolutionize how businesses, non-profits, and local creatives engage with their audience online. Through an agency he’s founded, Caroline’s Creative Agency, Mandez has helped clients amass over 300,000 followers, generate millions of impressions, and driven tens of thousands of dollars in revenue.
He also takes pride in supporting Winston-Salem's entrepreneurial ecosystem through collaborations with multiple nonprofits. His mission is to empower everyone to tell their story effectively, develop genuine connections with their audience and make a meaningful impact in the digital sphere.Mandez Douthit / Development Chair
L. Zere Mauvenine Styles / Events and Programming Committee Co-Chair
Zeré (ANY) is an enthusiastic member of the community who enjoys conversations about what the community wants to see their home grow into. THEY love watching the arts community grow into a new era of itself. THEY BELIEVE THIS town needs a scene and ARE proud to be a part of its transformation.
Bryson (They/he) is a proud member of the Winston Salem arts community, and believes that everyone has the capacity to create. What He love most about this community is how supportive, uncompromising, and driven we are to embrace the things we love most. We live in times full of insecurity and uncertainty, and DOSE gives them hope and comfort despite how dark our world may sometimes seem. William B. Fulp / Events and Programming Committee Co-Chair
Mad (he/him) grew up just outside Winston, between walnut cove and walkertown. as a kid, he started writing stories at a young age, and then began making songs on his first keyboard and guitar not long after. when he discovered how to record songs into his computer, there as no turning back! He has been writing and recording music ever since. Over the past few years, in discovering d.o.s.e. and becoming more involved in the winston-salem arts community, he has made many strong friendships and collaborated creatively in ways he has never done before. It is safe to say that this community changed his life for the better, and he wants to help make that happen for other people too!