Black Artists Grant
Established by Creative Debuts
The Black Artists Grant is £1,500 given out monthly to black artists in the UK, with each artist selected receiving £500 each.
Updated information here
The BAG is no-strings attached financial support to help the selected artists in whatever they want – be that make new work, buy equipment or materials, travel, research, visit exhibitions or conferences, or to even just cover some life expenses. This is specifically for Black artists; not politically black, not POC or BAME.
This grant has been set up because black artists are systematically under-supported by the art world; by institutions, curators, the artist-led scene, major and minor funding bodies, the market, art schools, and by audiences too. We recognise that a full institutional overhaul and dismantling of racist structures is required to transform the industry permanently, but we hope in a small way that this grant will help enable recipients to continue their artistic practice when the odds are so stacked against them.
Recipients will be chosen monthly, and every few months this selector will change. The first selectors are ROOT-ed Zine. They will do research to find artists who could benefit from the money, but if you would like to flag your work to them and put yourself forward, please send an email to info@rootedzine.co.uk. It would be helpful if your email could contain your name, contact information and some images of what you make or do – that might be via attachments, or a link to a website or other online portfolio (this can be Instagram for example, whatever you have available). There is no deadline as this is a monthly rolling grant, no age limit, and the grant does not expect any outcomes or reporting.
This is just the beginning of an ongoing project of support funded by Creative Debuts who are a platform for emerging artists. ROOT-ed is a zine run by Amber Akaunu and Fauziya Johnson that aims to promote, support and inspire creative people of colour.
11/06/2020
We are thrilled to announce that Umbrella Studios have matched our funding commitment. Umbrella is a creative agency built on freelance communities around the world. Instead of in house staff we work with a vast network of expert talent, and build unique teams for every brief. We’re committed to building an agency that champions flexibility and creative freedom, so that creatives can remain independent for as long as possible. If you’d like to hear more about our commitment please email tash@umbrellastudios.co.uk.
12/06/2010
Huge thank you to Most Wanted Wines who are now the 3rd supporter of the fund. Increasing the number of recipients to 3, each receiving £500. Most Wanted Wines are a wine brand with a difference. No pomp, no pretence, no la-di-dah wine chat. Our graphics-led brand and no-nonsense approach have made us a popular choice within the art community and we have nurtured this by sponsoring and supporting art events around the UK.
If you would like to become part of this indefinite funding commitment to supporting black creatives in the UK, please contact calum@creativedebuts.co.uk – please note, this is NOT for artist submissions, it is for financial supporters only.