Instagram Joins Forces With Brooklyn Museum To Support Black Creators

Instagram has partnered with Brooklyn Museum and writer Antwaun Sargent to debut this year’s #BlackVisionaries program. The initiative, designed to help invest in and support Black talent, will include a grant of $650,000.

The support program, co-founded by the social media giant, writer Antwaun Sargent and the Brooklyn Museum in 2021, is designed to help uplift and champion underrepresented voices within the creative industry. Last year, five Black designers and Black-led small design businesses were awarded $205,000 in grants last year. The funding allowed each participant to pursue their biggest dreams and make a mark for themselves within the art and design industry. 

“In Design, you should always listen to the communities’ response and feedback so it can be something they could use and cherish,” said Antwaun Sargent. “It’s something I always take with me. If I’m saying something is for our community and the community is not having the intended reaction to what I thought, maybe it’s my time to listen to that community and take in their feedback.” 

“It’s an accessible design grant that is really focused on Black communities and the work these communities are doing. [Instagram] has thoughtfully engaged with the design community and thinking broadly about design. I’m excited to get into the application process and have these discussions about designs that change lives and communities.” 

This year’s scheme will see ten grants totaling $650,000 given to emerging Black artists and designers between 18 and 35, including small organizations that are no more than ten years old. In addition, the platform is also set to collaborate with Meta Open Arts to award five $30,000 Visionary Grants to individuals focused on art and design in the US. 

The #BlackVisionaries program is designed to support Black visual artists, designers, and small Black businesses. The initiative will help invest in participants and connect them to a community of mentors, providing them with at least one year of regular check-ins and guidance in partnership with the non-profit organization Mobile Makers. 

Applications for this year’s #BlackVisionaries program are now open and close on July 29th. Anyone interested can apply here.