A new initiative in Detroit aims to help local BIPOC artists grow their passion into sustainable businesses that will become embedded in neighborhoods across the city.
The term BIPOC, which stands for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, recognizes that Black and Indigenous people continue to be severely impacted by systemic racial injustices.
The launch of the initiative, coined Seed and Bloom: Detroit, was recently announced by Gilbert Family Foundation and United States Artists.
Over the course of three years, 10 BIPOC artists will receive $150,000 and technical support to scale and deepen their work in Detroit.
In its inaugural cycle, grantees will join the three-year program that distributes the funds as:
- $75,000 in year one.
- $50,000 in year two.
- $25,000 in year three.
The artists will also receive technical assistance through the support of Artspace and Strategic Planning Partners.
As each artist defines their objectives and identifies pathways to find success, sustainability and growth, they will closely collaborate with United States Artists. However, should any artist need additional partners and resources, those will be added.
Laura Grannemann, executive director of the Gilbert Family Foundation, said through Seed and Bloom: Detroit, the foundation intends to expand access to neighborhood-based art by supporting artists and their organizations with technical assistance, capital and more.
“Artists are entrepreneurs and innovators,” she said. “Their art not only helps us think differently about beauty, humanity and society, it also catalyzes deeper social connections across our city.”
United States Artists President and CEO Judilee Reed said when artists are well-supported, they bring inspiring possibilities to light that benefit communities in countless ways.
“It is exciting to collaborate on a project that prioritizes the sustainability of Detroit artists,” she said. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Gilbert Family Foundation to administer Seed and Bloom: Detroit.”
The inaugural grantees, which were selected by a panel of arts and culture leaders, include:
- jes allie, BULK Space
- Juanita Anderson, Indija Productions
- Halima Afi Cassells, The Free Market of Detroit
- Amelia “Fiera” Duran, Garage Cultural
- Asia Hamilton, Norwest Gallery of Art/Norwest Community Collaborative
- Danielle Eliska Lyle, Neighborhood Bodega
- Michael Manson, House of Jit
- Tiff Massey, Tiff Massey Studios
- Ryan Myers-Johnson, Sidewalk Detroit
- Yvette Rock, Live Coal
Asia Hamilton, founder of Norwest Gallery, said she and her colleagues are grateful to be seen and felt in the Detroit community.
“We are excited to use this incredible opportunity to expand this work, building a legacy for artists of the future to experience and continue for generations to come,” she said.
Gannemann said the Gilbert Family Foundation aims to increase access to the arts for all, while simultaneously fostering a more racially equitable arts and culture sector in Detroit.
“By supporting BIPOC artists, founders and creators with deep ties to the community, this initiative will support each of the grantees as they deepen their impact within Detroit’s neighborhoods,” she said.
For more information about United States Artists, click or tap here.
For more information about the Gilbert Family Foundation, click or tap here.