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The Sistas Uprising Fund

Developing Grants For Marginalized Artists

Home: Welcome

Digital Painting by Amaranthia Sepia depicting a watercolor style forest reaching high into the sky. The trees are lush with green leaves and the sun shines down brightly through the middle.

Home: About

"The Sistas Uprising Fund" is a charity project to help marginalized artists, primarily focusing on supporting marginalized women and femme-expressing creatives this year. Initially, our first Art & Mind event in 2021 fundraised $751 for Brain Arts Org. This Boston organization uplifts “grassroots organizations and undervalued communities* by developing and implementing equitable models of engagement within the arts & culture sector.”

As Sista Creatives Rising started to develop shortly after, we brainstormed on how we could fundraise for other groups. Once Art & Mind 2023, “I Know Who I Am! Journeys of Women of Color & Femme-Expressing Creatives,” came to fruition, we decided it was time to create our fund. The goal will adjust depending on the theme of Art & Mind.

In 2024 We Are Distributing Seven $200 Grants with an Eighth $200 Grant Sponsored by For All Things Digital!
See More Details Below, including our definition of "Femme-Expressing"

Through GiveButter.com we raised $1453/$1000, allowing us to distribute seven grants for women of color and femme-expressing creatives of color. The remaining $53 will be used to cover fees.

Haisi Hu is an Asian woman. She has long hair to her shoulder. She is sitting
in a living room next to some plants and lamp. She wears a grey sweater,
red lipstick and a grey pearl necklace. She smiles and looks straight to the
camera. She is in her mid forties.

Tennesha is a black woman with long black hair. Her left arm cradles her right arm imitating Picasso’s
painting The Absinthe Drinker. She is sitting in front of a glass of black-colored water to symbolize the
polluted water in indigenous communities. She is wearing a red halter to symbolize Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women. The photo is a close-up photo.

The Lady Ms. Vagina Jenkins is a monoracial Black, Agender Femme wearing a green velvet jacket, braids
in their hair and a gold crown. Their green lipstick matches their jacket and they are holding a huge stem of
cotton between their teeth, like a rose. Their power phrase, “Get Free, boo” is labelled in teal text across the
image.

Sabi is crouching in a monochromatic green image with her black hair pulled back in a ponytail, a low cut
tie die shirt and short shorts that have white lace. She is looking straight at the camera with her right arm
raised resting behind her head. Her eyes look intense and large, shining, a very slight smile.

Kai is a Puerto Rican brown woman with short, brown curly hair and brown
eyes. In the picture she stands, arms outstretched in front of a wall,
surrounded by multiple art pieces. She has a couple of tattoos on her arms,
a white shirt with a screen printed original design, and a black vest layered
on top.

Our Impact

With the help of Brain Arts, we were able to start the first iteration of this fund earlier this year due to their donation of $ 1,000. All five chosen artists from our Art & Mind 2023 received $200 each!

Digital art by Amaranthia Sepia. A drawing of twin waterfalls surrounded by lilies and birght pink lotuses. A rainbow forming a heart-like shape is at the top.

Submission Expectations
(More Guideline Details On Our Upcoming Submission Form)

Visual Artists ONLY (USA & Canada based) will be expected to submit, via Jotform, a 2-minute video describing how this grant will help them, whether the funds will support their art directly or if it will help ease some unexpected stressors such as bills, medication costs, food costs, etc. that will allow them to continue to develop their artwork. Snippets of accepted videos will be compiled and put on our YouTube & Instagram. NO NFT OR AI ARTWORKS.

Artists must submit sample artworks, a website/portfolio (optional), a social media profile, a photo of themselves, additional images such as a photo of a bill (be sure to censor sensitive info), and a thorough written explanation that will explain how the funds will help. Artists will also be expected to fill out prompts related to accessibility, such as writing alt text or image descriptions.

Payment will be completed via PayPal if accepted.

Chosen artists will receive a square image of themselves and our logo to showcase on their social media/website, and will be featured in a 3D virtual gallery on KunstMatrix.Com

Digital Art by Amaranthia Sepia. A Depiction of a black, white and turquoise koi fish and a white, red and black koi swimming in an abstractly drawn body of water. they are surrounded by water lillies.

Applications Open March 28th - May 5th

Free to Submit. However, we suggest a $10 minimum tip to help us process applications! (Note: We're not a non-profit)

Submission Form

Tip Us On PayPal!

The Form Will Close at 21 Submissions. Artists Must be 18+

A Note from our Eighth Grant Sponsor, Adebukola Ajao, Founder of For All Things Digital!

Testimonial From The Founder of For All Things Digital - Adebukola Ajao

A Collage piece showcasing the photo of a Black woman, eyes closed and bands raised on either side of her head in a meditative pose. Her fingers are covered in colorful rings and her nails are manicured. Surrounding her photo on a sunflower colored background are text boxes. A smaller box displays the name of her business 'For All Things Digital'. Both boxes are outlined in white and taped to the yellow background with colorful washi tape. Sunflowers and lotuses decorate the image.

Microgrant Poster by Amaranthia Sepia

A digital drawing by Amaranthia Sepia of twin waterfalls surrounded by bluish gray rock formations. The waterfalls are parallel to each other. The waterfalls land into a pool filled with vibrant lily pads, lotuses and lotus seed pods. In the middle is a yellow circle with a white outline. Above the circle is black curved text with a. White outline on two curved yellow graphics that says, “Eight!! Grants!!” Within the circle is white text with a black outline. “Seven $200 Microgrants for Biwoc &

Testimonial From The Founder of For All Things Digital - Adebukola Ajao

1/2

As a small business advocate, creative entrepreneur, and educator, I'm passionate about initiatives that funds others to achieve their goals. Sista Creatives Rising perfectly aligns with my vision for collective funding and mutual aid. I'm honored to contribute to artists, especially Black artists who face significant barriers when trying to access funding.

Black artists receive only a fraction of the funding available to artists. Sista Creative Rising is making a difference by providing accessible resources and funding opportunities, SCR is helping to level the playing field for Black creatives. I'm proud to support SCR and its mission to empower Black artists and cultivate a more vibrant and equitable creative community.

A Note From Claire

When I was growing up under domestic violence, I promised to one day help my mother free from her sufferings by becoming a well-known writer.

I have yet to accomplish that goal, and my mother has transitioned. However, I have my daughter, and together, under SCR, we are working to help marginalized creatives gain accessibility and visibility through the arts to facilitate personal healing.

The Sistas Uprising Fund is another way to help marginalized creatives who need help during difficult times, even as they try to create. Initially called The Sista Survivor’s Fund, the fund was inspired by those like me who’ve survived domestic violence, but we decided the current name suited our vision better. I was unable to help my mother as I dreamed while growing up, but I truly hope she sees my efforts from the ether.

Claire sitting on a brown bench with her cane and large multi-colored funky sunglasses. She has her right hand resting on her right cheek. She is wearing a floral kimono cardigan and white halter jumpsuit. Surrounding Claire is grass and mulch, and one small bush.

Our Definition of "Femme-Expressing"

We define "femme-expressing" as anyone, regardless of gender identity (man, woman, non-binary, etc.), who leans towards a femme-expression. We’ve showcased creatives who define themselves as non-binary femme, trans-femme etc.

In summary we go by this definition referencing the article, “Women & Femmes Unite!” by Blu Buchanan:

*Femme is a term used in LGBTQ+ circles that describes one’s gender expression. It further explains how a person exists in society, such as a non-binary femme or trans-femme. ‘Woman’ describes gender identity, where ‘femme’ is a gender expression.

Anyone who identifies as a woman, regardless of gender expression, is eligible! And anyone is self defines as 'femme' but might not necessarily identify as a 'woman' is also welcome!

Please Download our Press Release!

"Curls and Curves"a digital painting. Three voluptuous Black women with thick natural hair.

Contact

General Inquiry
Art & Mind Inquiries
Virtual Workshop/Presentation Inquiries
Virtual Speaking Engagements
Virtual Media Interview

info@sistacreativesrising.com

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The Sistas Uprising Fund

Developing Grants For Marginalized Artists