Our Mission
The Black Genius Foundation (TBGF) celebrates and invests in the intellectual and creative genius of Black artists, arts professionals and arts organizations that have committed themselves to creating and supporting work dedicated to and rooted in the African Diaspora. Through granting and awards, public programs and digital initiatives, TBGF elevates the past-present-future continuum of how the African Diaspora continues to define genius.
Our Vision
The Black Genius Foundation transforms the conversation around genius by placing Black artists and the Black Creative Ecosystem at the center. It serves as a catalyst for equity, self-determination and an expansive future for communities of the African Diaspora.
Our Cornerstones
HONOR. We honor Black excellence and the spectrum of Black Genius.
INVEST. We invest in Black creativity, the financial health of the Black Arts Ecosystem and the vitality of our communities.
BUILD. We build community, platforms and a legacy in support of Black Genius.
TRANSFORM. We transform the conversation around genius, the trajectory of Black artists and their work and the structures and systems that support them.
Our Values
We value the genius of Black artists and the power of the Black Creative Ecosystem. The Black Genius Foundation centers the critical role that Black artists play in the conversation of genius and is dedicated to building public knowledge around the ways in which Black artists and creatives have helped to shape and shift culture through their creation, innovation and contributions to various forms and mediums. We simultaneously uplift the vital role that curators, journalists, scholars and organizations play in propagating the conversation of genius and the centering of Black artists within it.
We value the diversity of Black Genius. The Black Genius Foundation values the myriad of ways in which genius manifests itself through artistry, curation, presentation, scholarship, journalism and institution building. In addition, we honor the diversity of experiences and perspectives that help to inform our genius; creating space for us and our communities to show up in the fullness of who we are and all that we are becoming.
We value the duality of Black Genius. The Black Genius Foundation celebrates the inspiration and intentionality of Black Genius; recognizing that it is both of the moment and the result of years of hard work, dedication and an active, ever-evolving practice. We seek to highlight that artistic excellence and rigor knows no bounds by celebrating artists, arts professionals and institutions that exist in the realm of performing arts and entertainment. By celebrating these dualities, we hope to foster a more supportive, generative and expansive space for creators and communities.
We value and recognize Black Genius as a continuum. The Black Genius Foundation celebrates that Black Genius exists within a continuum. It is both generational and intergenerational. It is a part of our traditions and is its own tradition.
We value self-determination and the power of the village. The Black Genius Foundation values the power of being able to define ourselves for ourselves and through our own lens. We leverage the power of the village and the catalytic role that the Black community and Black philanthropy plays in support of Black artists and the Black Creative Ecosystem.