The Strokes of Genius Fellowship (Strokes of Genius) is an open application program that provides artists, curators, journalists, and scholars with funding to develop new creative projects. Awarding six (6) fellowships annually with a $2,500 grant, feedback support from The Black Genius Foundation Staff and mentorship support from The Black Genius Brain Trust, Strokes of Genius fulfills our commitment to invest in the creativity and cultural production of Black artists and arts professionals and our dedication to nurturing the creative health of our communities.

Please refer to our eligibility criteria here. You can also find it outlined below:

• Applicants must be US based. The Black Genius Foundation defines the U.S. as all 50 of the United States, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S.Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

• Applicants must be 18 years or older

• Applicants should be the principal creator of the work

• Applicant should have a defined artistic practice, aesthetic and point of view reflecting rigor and commitment to craft

• Applicant should have at least five years of professional experience with a demonstrated record of achievement or body of work as noted by performances, exhibitions, reviews, commissions, grants, awards, residencies, fellowships, publications, screenings, or productions

• Proposed project should be completed within the funding cycle - August 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024

• Applicants should not be currently enrolled in a degree granting program

The Strokes of Genius Fellowship can be used to support the following types of projects:

• The composing or recording of new music

• The creation of a new choreographic, theatrical, or multidisciplinary work

• The production of a video, film, televisual, digital or multimedia project

• A visual arts project

• A creative writing project

• The research, development and/or execution of a curatorial project or presentation

• Research or writing an article, paper, or book for publication

If Strokes of Genius support is being utilized to fund a particular aspect of a larger project, please specify that in your application i.e. choreographing one piece in an evening length work, composing and/or recording a number of songs for an album, traveling to conduct interviews and/or research for a project, script completion, storyboarding, completing a short story, book of poems, etc. Applications will be evaluated on artistic strength and the feasibility of completing the project within the grant period. In addition, you will be asked to share documentation of the completed project as part of your final report.

• Commissions for the development of work

• Creative Stipends for dancers, actors, etc.

• Hiring creative collaborators i.e. engineers, designers (lighting, sound, video, costume, scenic, etc.), directors, dramaturgs,

• Space Rental and Studio Time

• Equipment Rental or Purchase

• Travel costs

• Materials and Supplies

• Recording Costs

• Research Costs

• Other applicable costs related to the creation and development of your project

We ask that all applicants allocate a portion of the budget to compensate themselves for the time spent creating their work.

The Strokes of Genius application is comprised of the following components:

YOUR GENIUS

This is an opportunity to introduce us to your genius. We would love to know about you as an artist or creative professional, the things that inspire you and inform your practice/process.

• Video Intro: Upload a 3-5 minute video sharing who you are as an artist or creative professional.

• Artist/Creative Professional Work Samples: Please upload or provide links to 2-3 work samples within the past five years that demonstrate your work

• Artist/Creative Professional Resume or CV

• Artist/Creative Professional Press or Social Media Highlights: Please share any press that you have received for your work. Up to 4 links. social media spotlights should not exceed 50% of your press submissions.

SUPPORT REQUEST

This is an opportunity for us to learn about the project for which you are requesting Strokes of Genius support and for us to gain insight into how funding from The Black Genius Foundation will help with the creation and development of your work.

• Project Title:

• Project Description:

• Supplemental Project Materials: If you have supplemental materials that you would like to share regarding your project i.e. a deck, video, writing sample or excerpt or track please feel free to upload up to three files. For music and video files, uploaded files should not exceed 15 minutes in total. For decks, treatments and writing samples, no more than 10 pages. Please note that if you do not have supplemental materials for upload, it will not be weighed against your application.

• Project Timeline: Please outline the timeline for completion of your project. It is recommended that all Strokes of Genius supported projects be completed by December 31, 2024.

• Strokes of Genius Budget: Please enter the budget for your project using the template below. It is designed to be a net zero budget. However, if the expenses for your project exceed the $2,500 grant, please feel free to provide insight into the additional revenue sources that will help to fund your project in the "Other Sources of Support" section. You can list grants, sponsorships, income and in-kind contributions in addition to the status of the funding (i.e. confirmed or pending).

We encourage all Strokes of Genius applicants to allocate a portion of their budget to cover the costs of their creative labor and contributions. While we know it's tempting to pour everything into your project, we also want to encourage you to earmark something for yourself as outlined in the Creative Stipend/Commission (self) line item.

• Strokes of Genius - Proposed Impact of Support: How would Strokes of Genius funding assist you with the creation and development of this work? In addition, how will support from The Black Genius Foundation be impactful for you at this time?

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS In addition to funding, The Black Genius Foundation also provides support services to Strokes of Genius Fellowship recipients such as check-ins with The Black Genius Foundation team and expert consultations with members of our Brain Trust.

• Non-Monetary Support: How do you hope that our non-monetary services help you to realize your goals for this project and/or your artistic and professional growth?

The application deadline for Strokes of Genius submissions is 11:59pm EST on Friday, May 3, 2024.

The grant cycle is approximately 5 months – beginning in August 1 and ending December 31, 2024.

Applicants will be notified if they have been selected as a recipient of the Strokes of Genius Fellowship in early July.

Strokes of Genius Fellows will be selected based on artistic merit as illustrated by the strength and quality of their application and the feasibility of accomplishing their proposed project within the fellowship cycle.

Yes. The Strokes of Genius Fellowship will be made available again in 2025. We encourage applicants who are not selected during this cycle to reapply. We also encourage you to continue to share your genius with the world and know that it is needed. You never know who you will inspire, so please continue to create and share your work.

For technical issues with the submission of your application, please contact Submittable. For all other questions, email grants@theblackgeniusfoundation.org Please note that due to the high volume of inquiries please allow a few business days for a response.