Creativity is the lifeblood of our community, but even the most talented artists need space, inspiration, and connection to thrive. CreativeRx: LA is a one-week immersive experience that sends Fayetteville artists to Los Angeles to explore, learn, and soak in the energy of a vibrant, global art scene, all to bring that inspiration back home.

This program is a collaboration between Black Artist Forward (BAF), Create Now (a Los Angeles-based nonprofit), and Region Six Project Inc. (our host gallery and studio). Together, we’re expanding artist resources, strengthening creative practice, and fueling Fayetteville’s artistic future.

Why It Matters:

Inspiration & Immersion: Artists will visit galleries, museums, cultural landmarks, and creative hubs to spark new ideas and techniques.
Community & Collaboration: By connecting with LA-based artists and creatives, our participants gain insights, networks, and tools they can share locally.
Lasting Impact: Every creation, lesson, and connection from this residency returns to Fayetteville, strengthening BAF’s artist community and upcoming exhibitions.
Healing Through Art: Creativity isn’t just skills; it’s emotional resilience. This residency gives artists the space to process, heal, and grow.

How Funds Will Be Used:

Your support directly fuels:

Artist travel, lodging, and safe accommodations
Studio access for immersive creative sessions
Documentation, storytelling, and social media content to inspire the broader community
Materials and resources to ensure artists can bring their LA-inspired projects back to Fayetteville

How You Can Help:

Join us in investing in Fayetteville’s creative future. Your support isn’t just funding a trip, it’s fueling a movement, empowering Black artists, and nurturing the next generation of community-driven art.

Give today to bring CreativeRx: LA to life and watch inspiration return home.

Our Story

Black Artist Forward began long before it had a name. On November 1st, 2022, at a table inside the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur & Business HUB, two women, April Mata and Shakeyla Ingram, were invited into a conversation that would spark a movement. Neither knew at the time that they were stepping into the very first moments of what would become Black Artist Forward.

From those early conversations, the need was clear: Black artists in our community deserved more resources, more opportunities, and more recognition. On March 10th, 2023, we launched the very first Black Artist Forum. The response was overwhelming—a resounding call for continued action. Just days later, on March 13th, we began the process of becoming a nonprofit, officially completing our journey on April 18th, 2024.

Since that first forum, Black Artist Forward has grown into a vital force in Cumberland County and beyond. We have:

Hosted over a dozen professional development workshops
Brought art into the community through a city-wide Black Art Crawl
Produced three seasons of “Kissed by the Sun”, our outdoor immersive exhibit that has been experienced by more than 200,000 people
Presented seven exhibitions

Our work has reached national stages as well. In August 2024, April and Shakeyla were invited to speak at Artists Thr!ve, advocating for the needs and brilliance of Black artists. And in August 2025, thanks to generous donations and community support, we launched the Thrive Fund, an emergency microgrant program providing direct support to artists when they need it most.

To further strengthen connections, we created Creative Sidequests, hosting six events that spotlight and celebrate local Black art and artists.

What began as a simple invitation to a table has grown into a movement. Black Artist Forward is proof of what can happen when vision, community, and creativity come together. And this is only the beginning.

CreativeRx:LA the Micro-Residency Program

By Black Artist Forward

CreativeRx:LA the Micro-Residency Program

Expanding Creative Horizons to Strengthen Fayetteville Artists

Team Members