ABOUT US

“Inspired by skies around the world, Big Sky Countries transforms children’s spaces with murals that bring joy, unity, and hope.”

~ Founder, Nichole Blackburn

Our mission: to donate colorful, large-scale murals to children's facilities around the world.

Big Sky Countries is a nonprofit founded in 2008 by artist Nichole Blackburn, with a simple mission: to transform children’s facilities around the world with vibrant, large-scale murals that bring hope, creativity, and joy.

Since 2006, Big Sky Countries has donated murals to schools, hospitals, orphanages, special needs centers, libraries, and youth facilities in more than a dozen countries—including Thailand, Ireland, the Philippines, Bolivia, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Kenya—as well as across the United States in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Newtown, Atlanta, and New Jersey. Murals range in scale from 15 feet to 250 feet, and each one is custom designed to reflect the spirit of the local community.

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Every project is a collaboration. Children, teachers, and community members are invited to paint alongside Nichole, contributing ideas, drawings, and brushstrokes that become part of the final masterpiece. In Los Angeles, for example, more than 50 youth artworks were woven into a 40-foot mural, while in Thailand, Bolivia, and the Philippines, children were painted directly into the scenes themselves. Nichole believes the act of painting together is just as powerful as the finished artwork, boosting creativity, confidence, and connection.

At Big Sky Countries, everything is donated—supplies, paint, sketches, travel, and time. All a facility needs is a wall and a ladder. In addition to murals, we also provide scholarships, art supplies, classes, and related resources to support children’s learning and well-being. All brushes, art supplies, and paint are donated to the facility after each mural, so they can be used for future projects and creative activities.

Across every mural, there is one unifying detail: a sky. Each sky is inspired by one Nichole has witnessed in the country of the previous project. The sky in the Philippines carries the clouds she saw in Ireland, while the Los Angeles mural holds the sunrise from New Orleans. As Nichole shares:

“Each mural carries a piece of the sky from the country before it, connecting children everywhere under one shared sky.” – Nichole Blackburn, Founder

Every wall we paint is treated as a masterpiece—whether a stark white wall in a therapy room or a plain brick cafeteria wall. Through thoughtful research, design, and local collaboration, each mural honors the culture, people, and environment of its setting. Themes have included Barrio Fiesta in the Philippines, Music and My Favorite Activities in Thailand, Blue Bayou and Playgrounds in New Orleans, My Safe Place in Los Angeles, and Under the Sea in Ireland.

Big Sky Countries is dedicated to creating uplifting environments where children feel inspired, supported, and connected. With every brushstroke, we are reminded that art has the power to unite—and that we are all under one sky.

In addition to murals, Big Sky Countries donates scholarships, art supplies, art classes, and other resources to schools and children’s facilities around the world.