605 Magic Art Bus aims to provide mobile creative, education space

A renovated bus envisioned as a mobile art studio and classroom could be on the road in Sioux Falls as soon as this coming spring.

The 605 Magic Art Bus would covert a 30-foot New Flyer city bus into a mobile learning space full of supplies that aims to revolutionize the way arts and crafts are brought and taught to the public.

The project is the brainchild of Mercedes Maltese, who thought of it when her hours were cut during the pandemic.

She’s the arts coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, a framer at Rehfeld’s Art & Framing and an occasional instructor at the Washington Pavilion’s Visual Arts Center, and her side gigs include private lessons, henna body art and face painting.

“I started to play around with this idea and researched if it had been done before, and it has been successful in other states,” she said. “I found that the community was ready and supportive, so my friend and I decided to give it a whirl.”

Her friend and co-founder, Marlo Arp, is a retired art teacher and owner of the Inwood Trading Post in Inwood, Iowa.

A private lesson connected Maltese to the future 605 Magic Art Bus.

“I was teaching a private lesson to a friend’s daughter, and we were chatting about my vision of having a mobile art studio. He mentioned he had a shuttle-type bus that wasn’t being used and that he would hold on to it for me until I was ready to buy it — at an affordable price,” she said. “We’ve finally come to the moment where we can make it possible.”

The bus would cater to all ages through events and festivals, community classes and private parties.

“For example, I’d love to see a glow-in-the-dark-art party on the bus,” Maltese said.

The hope is to find sponsors to buy logo space on the back of the bus wrap and eventually support free activities for kids in the summer.

“I’m envisioning Saturday mornings at local parks or block parties with fun activities our underserved community members can participate in at no charge,” said Maltese, adding they also have a small business loan and are looking for grants.

A GoFundMe account launched recently with the goal of raising $8,000. The money would go toward wrapping the bus to protect it, making small repairs and renovating and rebuilding the inside into a mobile classroom.

“I’ve had a few donations from the public,” Maltese said. “We’ve had a couple businesses express interest in sponsorships, and we’re currently reaching out to discuss our needs and wants. We can always use more help. The more funding we have the farther our reach can be to bring art where there is a need.”

The pair are excited to start renovating the bus, she added.

“We have so many great lighting, sound and visual ideas,” she said. “We really want the bus to have an ambience like nothing you’ve been in before. We want this to be an immersive experience that people will want to have again and again.”

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