The Carmen Cereceda International Educational Initiative: Carrying a Legacy of Art & Unity Across Borders

The Story: A Visionary Who Painted Bridges

Carmen Cereceda Bianchi (1926–2025) was more than a master muralist. She was a citizen of the world, a spiritual visionary, and a beloved educator who believed art was a universal language capable of building bridges between cultures, generations, and realities.

Trained in the epicenter of the Mexican muralism movement, she worked alongside giants like David Alfaro Siqueiros, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo . She carried that fire—the belief in art as a tool for social transformation—across the globe, creating enduring works from Santiago to Toronto. For 17 years as a professor at OCAD University, she didn't just teach technique; she imparted a philosophy of art-making rooted in Realismo Mágico and deep community connection.

Carmen saw a "spiritual bridge between this objective world and another more powerful and protective world." Her life's work was dedicated to building those bridges through public art. Now, it is our turn to carry her legacy forward.

The Mission: The Carmen Cereceda International Educational Initiative

The Carmen Cereceda Bianchi International Public Art School (CCBIPAS) was founded on her vision. It is a global venture, articulated from Toronto, that unites OCAD University , the Dundas West Open Air Museum , and a network of international partners like The Dharavi Dream Project in India.

We are launching this dedicated crowdfunding campaign to raise $20,000 USD to ensure the educational heart of our mission thrives. We need your support to continue serving low-income and marginalized communities across the globe, providing them with access to arts education and the tools for cultural expression.

Your funding will directly power our 2025-2026 pilot programs and beyond, transforming walls into classrooms and communities into canvases.

Where Your Money Goes: Building a Global Classroom

Your contribution will fuel three interconnected educational pillars:

1. Global Pilot Programs (2025-2026)

Our first international workshops are already in motion. Your support ensures these exchanges are not just events, but deep, transformative educational experiences for all involved.

• Mumbai, India (Dec 2025): A cross-cultural exchange with The Dharavi Dream Project, connecting Latin American mural traditions with South Asian narrative art forms. Featuring artist Serpiente Sal from Chile.
• Toronto, Canada (Jan 2026): The inaugural workshop at OCAD U, focusing on mural methodologies and community integration, featuring The Clandestinos Crew.

Your support covers:

• Artist honorariums and travel.
• Art supplies and materials for community participants.
• Translation and cultural interpretation services.
• Documentation of the workshops for future educational resources.

2.  Community Scholarships & Bursaries

We are committed to removing financial barriers. A portion of these funds will create scholarships for aspiring artists from low-income backgrounds in Toronto and our partner communities to participate in CCBIPAS workshops, mentorship programs, and future certificate courses.

3.  Open Educational Resources (OER)

Carmen's teachings shouldn't be locked away. Funds will help us begin the process of digitizing workshop methodologies, recording interviews with participating artists, and creating free, publicly accessible educational materials on community mural-making, decolonial art practices, and the legacy of Latin American muralism.

Our Partners: A Foundation of Excellence

This initiative is built on a bedrock of trusted, impactful partnerships:

• OCAD University: Canada's university of the imagination, providing academic rigor and a home for Carmen's pedagogical legacy.
• Dundas West Open Air Museum: An innovative model for using public murals as community educational tools in Toronto.
• The Dharavi Dream Project: A grassroots hip-hop and arts movement empowering youth in one of Asia's largest marginalized communities.

Join Us: Be a Bridge Builder

Carmen Cereceda Bianchi dedicated her life to showing us that art is not a luxury, but a vital necessity for a connected and empathetic world. She saw the "essential and immediate truths" that unite us.

By donating to the Cereceda International Educational Initiative, you are not just funding art programs. You are:

• Honoring a legendary artist's vision.
• Empowering the next generation of artists in marginalized communities.
• Building a tangible bridge of understanding across cultures.

Help us raise $20,000 to continue Carmen's work of weaving a more beautiful, just, and connected world—one mural at a time.

Thank you for your generosity and for believing in the power of art to transform lives.

Donation Levels:

• $25: Provides art supplies for one community participant.
• $50: Funds a workshop module on mural planning for a student.
• $100: Covers travel costs for a local artist to mentor youth.
• $500: Creates a full scholarship for an artist from a low-income background to attend a pilot program.
• $1,000+: Major Bridge Builder – Your name will be recognized on our website and in future educational materials as a key supporter of Carmen's legacy.

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