DORF is producing two shows this year and are organizing a very under the radar fundraising effort to finance these shows through our close friends, colleagues and family.

We would be so grateful if you are able to donate anything to help us produce this programming for the Austin community. We know there are a lot of important causes and organizations doing hard work right now and there is no pressure or expectation - just an invitation to be a part of an important upcoming event if you are able to (details below) and to support a young non-profit as we grow into our next phase (more on that coming soon!).

Our upcoming show is called Volya: An Arts and Culture Benefit for Ukraine. A month ago we were approached by Casey Ritter - a former Ukrainian Peace Corps member who has become close with the local Austin Ukrainian population (many of whom have been tirelessly showing up every weekend to protest and raise awareness at the Capital). She and the Ukrainian population here have been privately donating, collecting medical supplies and sending them directly to the frontline to aid the soldiers and victims of the Russian invasion (many of the local Ukrainians involved have families and friends conscripted to the army).

Her idea was to put on a silent auction fundraiser hosted by DORF. Because of the immediate needs of the people on the ground in Ukraine, we decided we needed to act quickly and fast-tracked the show to open Saturday, May 14, 2022.

For the show - we will be hosting an open-call to the Austin/Central-Texas-based artist community and holding a silent auction virtually and in-person to benefit XXXXXX. In addition to the auction, the local Ukrainian group XXXXXXX will be organizing and hosting open-to-the-public arts and culture workshops and activities for families. Visitors to the opening will be greeted by the music, traditional food and textiles of Ukrainian culture - including a doll making workshop for kids and cake making for adults. There will, of course, be vodka on hand and a feeling of comradery and support that can only come when communities build bridges through our culture.

We have setup this donation portal where you can see the various tiers of donations we are hoping for. The show itself cost, at a minimum, $4,000 to produce. The Ukrainian organizers are raising 50% of that and DORF (and our supporters) will be matching them. Anything we receive OVER our allotted $2,000 will be sent directly to our show fund to help produce our 2nd upcoming event - a Get Out The Vote mural program - offering project budgets to 3-6 local, working artists and culminating in a mural tour with voter registration, art and mini-markets with food, drink and voter merch. Details are still being hammered out but the more we can put together, the more we’ll be bringing thoughtful, beautiful artistic messaging throughout the city and outside the city.

This is going to be a really special experience - fueled by passion, family and community outrage against a centuries old but ongoing human rights crisis. We hope you will join us!

DORF is a 501c3 nonprofit and (at this point) a very small team and everything we do is made possible through community donations (like yours). Your donation will support:

• A house gallery and home-grown activist and advocacy platform for social change

• Exhibition and gathering space for Austin- and Texas-based artists and community

• Over $6K in artist stipends in 2021

• Over $15K raised for local activist and advocacy non-profit organizations

• Two commissions in 2021 supporting Austin-based artists

• Advocacy initiatives through gender and racial equity community partnerships

• Collaborations with over 100 artists

Please consider supporting DORF with a tax-deductible donation. The funds you donate help us provide programming, stipends for artists and booster our capacity to partner with community members and non-profits.

DORF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity and your donation is fully tax-deductible.