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 POC & 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 & 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 Morello
Vice President
Leo (He/They) grew up around artists of all disciplines and started performing at a young age as one of the world’s youngest professional fire performers and circus artists. They found a love for theatrical design and management in high school and transitioned to work in that field professionally as a stage manager, scenic and lighting designer, and technical director before starting school at UNCSA. Leo never expected to fall in love with Winston-Salem, but during his time there he found something special about our small city. He is excited to bring more inclusivity to the arts and address many of the issues facing marginalized groups in our community and across the world.
Kendra Archer
Treasurer/Marketing Committee Co-Chair
Kendra (she/they) has been creative her whole life, but didn’t embrace that side of herself until returning to school at 30 to pursue a degree in film production design. Prior to graduating in 2019, she’d spent 10 years as a competitive dog trainer. Her love for behavioral psychology is coming in handy now; as she both brings her skills to DOSE & pursues Master’s education in Marketing & Digital Media at Harvard. Now at 37, she’s excited to expand the artistic community in the Triad and help create the foundation for comprehensive artistic careers for young creators. Kendra lives in High Point with 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 2 disabilities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Yosimar Alveraz
Development Committee Co-Chair
Yosimar Alvarez-Gutierrez (he/they), a 22-year-old queer, Afro-Indigenous artist hailing from Winston-Salem, expresses his creativity through various mediums, including traditional painting, digital art, and wearable creations. Drawing inspiration from his Mexican heritage, he takes pride in representing and empowering his communities through his artistic endeavors. His work advances the goal of developing and providing resources and opportunities to artists within the community.
MANDEZ DOUTHIT
Development Committee Co-Chair
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.
WillIam B. Fulp
Events and Programming Committee Co-Chair
William B. Fulp (he/they) is a 25 year old multi-talented instrumentalist and vocalist who was born and raised in Winston Salem. His affinity for the arts didn’t develop until his late teens when he traveled the East Coast looking for a worth while place to pursue a career in music. After some time, experience, and not finding what he was looking for the unique energy of Winston brought him back to his roots. He strives with enthusiasm to support the tight knit arts community in any capacity moving forward to help make tomorrow a more inclusive and support place. In his free time he enjoys video games, culinary arts, & fixing up old motorcycles.