Halsey Launches Second Round Of The Black Creators Funding Initiative

I love Halsey because she is an artist that doesn’t just talk about a problem when she sees one; she acts. I have the utmost respect for her because she stands up for what she believes in and fights for those who are often overlooked. That’s what she has done with her latest project the Black Creators Funding Initiative or BCFI.

Back in June at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, Halsey launched the BCFI which was designed to give funds, resources, and a platform to black creators. Halsey and her team understand how difficult it is for people of color to get their careers going. This initiative helps them to have their voices heard while showcasing their incredible talents.

The best thing about Halsey launching this project is the fact that she is listening to her fans. All you have to do is head to Halsey’s instagram or twitter and tag black creators you think deserve to be recognized with the hashtag #BlackCreatorsFund. She and her team will then choose the recipients. If you yourself are a creator, you can tag yourself as well. Whether you are a writer, filmmaker, fashion designer, painter, any and all forms of creativity are recognized. Take a look at the first-round picks below.

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: FREDDIE Instagram: @eastbayvicious Bio: My name is FREDDIE (they/them), I'm a non-binary singer, songwriter, producer and drag performer from Oakland, CA. This April, I released my debut ep, MELANIN MONROE, which has since been placed on playlists by Billboard, Grindr, THEM., and Spotify (Cosmic Playlists). Currently plotting my campy, queer takeover of Hip-Hop and R&B. Listen to ‘MELANIN MONROE’ on Spotify and Apple Music

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 22, 2020 at 10:48am PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: Asata Instagram: @asata.maise Bio: Asata Maisé, a 27 year old designer from Wilmington, Delaware learned basic sewing and garment construction when she was 14 years old. Garment making quickly became her favorite pastime during the remainder of her high school years. She began freelance designing in 2016 after a sequence of internships and jobs at Michael Costello Couture, Odd Future/Dystro, LLC, Diane von Furstenberg, and palmer//harding. Although accepted into notable universities, such as London College of Fashion, she opted for hands on experience in the industry. These opportunities placed her in the metropolitan cities of Los Angeles, London, and New York. The designer is a passionate history buff drawn especially to eras of social revolution. She believes we each have an obligation to be aware of current issues in order to create solutions for a better future. This is reflected in the choice to use reclaimed and true vintage materials in the process of bespoke garment making. Her personal philosophy and immersion into diverse cultures has helped shape her learned experience into a niche of her own. Website: AsataMaise.com

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 22, 2020 at 4:06pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: Sanni Kehinde Instagram: @Kennypenfreak Bio: Kennypenfreak (b. 1994) is a self taught artist living and working in Lagos, Nigeria. Kennypenfreak is a Ballpen artist that hails from Ogun state, who started drawing when he was 6. He defines his process as "a practice in time and patience", working approximately 200 to 400 hours on a single decently sized piece. Starting at the early age of 6, Kennypenfreak had always been enthusiastic about drawing realistic portraits on paper. Being exposed to realistic artworks he viewed online, Kennypenfreak grew to love the ballpen as a toy at a very tender age. Over the years He gradually taught himself how to master his pen in harmony as a medium to express himself through Patience, Practice and Persistence. These have guided him throughout his journey as an artist. Website: https://kennypen.disha.page/

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 23, 2020 at 10:59am PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: Alaina Twitter: @/iesbiangel IG: ‪@thebeachisforlovers‬ Bio: I’m Alaina Walsh, a non-binary 18 year old born and raised in Brooklyn. Life has always been an uphill battle for me, but for as long as I can remember, I’ve found an escape in writing. Poetry has been my chosen form of self-expression for quite a while, helping me to navigate my experiences in life as a young Black queer person. I want to people to be able to find understanding in my words and to give a voice to those who feel like they have as much to say as I do!

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 23, 2020 at 4:24pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: Sheana IG: @epic.werk Bio: My Name is Sheana Rivero (Pronounced She-On-Uh) I am currently based in South Florida (Ft Lauderdale) but was originally born in Alabama. I currently work for an online software company in marketing, but the DREAM is to be a full time artist. I love to create editorial quality content on a shoestring budget to show other inspiring artists that YOU CAN DO ANYTHING even when the budget isn't there. Halloween is my favorite time of year so my Halloween series continues to grow in its production. I want to continue to grow my platform and set an example for upcoming artists, especially black artists. My art is my EVERYTHING.

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 24, 2020 at 10:43am PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: Robert IG: @roberttcunningham IG for web series: @howtol0vewebseries Bio: Robert Cunningham (he/they) is an Atlanta-born, Chicago-based actor and screenwriter. While attending Northwestern University, they starred opposite Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair in the black comedy, MOM AND DAD, and later acted in teen noir KNIVES AND SKIN. Their work focuses on queering and reclaiming predominantly white and heteronormative spaces through a comedic lens, and that’s exactly what they are doing with How to L0ve. How to L0ve is a comedic web series that follows a group of teenagers who reunite to work as ball people at their community’s local tennis tournament. A major goal of the series is to reimagine tennis by putting Black athletes at the forefront while also acknowledging famous Black tennis players from the past and present. They have assembled an entirely POC and/or femme creative team and are working to collaborate with Black tennis organizations in Chicago.

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 24, 2020 at 5:18pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: Meet Me @ The Altar IG: @mmataband (photo credit: @la_rodgers) Bio: We are an energetic pop punk band composed of vocalist Edith Johnson, guitarists/bassist Téa Campbell, and drummer Ada Juarez. We all live in different states (Georgia, Florida, and New Jersey respectively), forming via YouTube, but don't let it stop us from getting things done. Our aspiration as a band is to be the representation we didn't get to have growing up. We didn't have people who looked like us playing the type of music we enjoyed, so we know absolutely how important representation is. It would've made all the difference knowing there were black and brown women in the scene to look up to. Listen to “Garden” on Spotify & Apple Music

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 25, 2020 at 2:58pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: Silas IG: @silasonoja Website: www.silasonojaarts.com Bio: I am Silas Onoja, a Nigerian contemporary Artist. I specialize in painting and specify in making realistic paintings. I aspire to put more effort into my work.

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 25, 2020 at 9:10pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: KaVozia Glynn IG: @kayspov Bio: Hi! My name is KaVozia. I am 19 years old and originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, I’m going to school and working in Fort Pierce, Florida and about to start my junior year as a graphic design major. At the moment, I’ve really just been dabbling in a bunch of different things creatively just because I’m the type to put my eggs into a thousand baskets. However, photography and styling have been my two favorite things to put my time into for a while now. My main aspiration is to create more intuitively and intensely, in any medium that calls to me. But just like this great initiative is doing, I’d love to unify black creatives and provide more opportunities for us not just in front of the camera, but behind it as well.

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 26, 2020 at 11:50am PDT

View this post on Instagram

#BLACKCREATORSFUND Name: Sade IG: @sadendya slide to watch cinematography reel! Website: www.sadendya.co + www.theredfuton.com Bio: Sade Ndya is an LA based Cinematographer, who also specializes in Fine Art Photography and Community Organizing. At only 20, she's opened her own freelance studio space called The Red Futon (@theredfuton). She actively shoots narrative films, commercials, documentaries and music videos for commission under her production collective and as a freelancer. Sade’s creative style is grounded in surreal-like imagery, intricate production design and dynamic lighting dedicated to portraying the beauty in being black. Her work has been published on platforms like PANAVISION, BEATS BY DRE, MILK, FLAUNT, WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT, VOYAGELA, and LA TACO. She has also freelanced creating content for companies like RAEDIO, HILLMAN GRAD PRODUCTIONS, AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION, MICROSOFT and CHERIE. Through her creative work, Sade is actively dedicated to providing safe creative spaces for fellow POC to carry out their personal visions and endeavors. She is the Co-Organizer of Antiracist Classroom (@antiracistclassroom) and was the Event Organizer of Represent Film Festival this past October 2019, a short-film festival dedicated to highlighting young filmmakers of color. Additionally, she is also a Cinematography mentor at Made In Her Image (@wearemadeinherimage), which is a non-profit that provides young brown and black girls education, resources and industry opportunities to learn the world of filmmaking. Thinking the world was hers as soon as she owned her first DSLR, Sade began by just making films about people with stories to tell. All of these moments collectively becoming a part of her and who she is, shaping her knowledge and awareness of the world. She wants to promote this sense of self-actualization with her work. To help people become proud of who they are, where they came from, and what they believe in.

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Jun 27, 2020 at 4:04pm PDT

So much talent, right? Currently round two of the searches is taking place, and this time around Halsey has teamed up with Magnum Ice Cream for this one. I’m not sure how long this round will last but the previous one was announced 11 days after it launched so if you want to be part of this one, start tagging yourself or your friends by heading to Halseys twitter and Instagram and don’t forget to use the #BlackCreatorsFund hashtag.

Good luck!

View this post on Instagram

THE TIME HAS COME! Round TWO of the Black Creators Funding Initiative! This round we’ve partnered with @Magnum Ice Cream to help bring more black creators the funds and support to share their work with the world. 💗 Use #BLACKCREATORSFUND & tag your favorite black creators in the comments. I can’t wait to have my mind blown once again.

A post shared by halsey (@iamhalsey) on Oct 10, 2020 at 1:15pm PDT