On 11/17 #Black Visionaries Creative Chair Antwaun Sargent announced this year’s Black Visionaries grant recipients. In partnership with Instagram and the Brooklyn Museum, Sargent awarded $650,000 in grants to 10 black artists, designers and small businesses working in the arts and design sectors, in recognition of the program’s commitment to black voices and organizations collect and invest in them. There are five $100,000 Visionary Small Business Grants for Black-led organizations in the US and five $30,000 Emerging Visionary Grants for US-based individuals focused on art and design. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the Brooklyn Museum and Instagram have also partnered with nonprofit organization Mobile Makers to offer mentorship to recipients, too. When asked about the overall goal of the program, Sargeant said, “Community builds community and that is the intention behind what we are trying to establish here. It is the financial support, the mentoring, the connections, and the emphasis on storytelling that combine to provide a framework for the limitless development of these recipients.”
This year’s grantees were selected by a committee of artists and designers, including ell Decor Editor-in-Chief Asad Syrkett, Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter, and Metaverse Design Director Ian Splitter. This year’s grantees include pioneering organizations such as: Black fashion fair. Scroll below for a full look at the talented grant recipients.