The Thrive Fund: Because Artists Deserve to Thrive, Not Just Survive

Every day, artists pour their creativity into our communities, telling stories, preserving culture, and sparking conversations that move us forward. But while their work shapes our world, too many artists are struggling to make a living from their art.

More than 85% of artists earn less than $25,000 a year from their creative practice. With rising costs of living and the loss of support programs like SNAP benefits, many are now facing an impossible choice between creating art and meeting their basic needs.

At Black Artist Forward, we believe that no artist should have to suffer in silence. That’s why we created The Thrive Fund, an emergency microgrant program providing direct, no-strings-attached relief to artists in crisis. These small grants cover essentials like groceries, rent, utilities, transportation, and medical care, giving artists the breathing room they need to stay afloat and keep creating.

This Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to help fill the Thrive Fund to the brim so when an artist reaches out for help, we can say “yes.”

When you give, you’re not just donating money, you’re fueling creativity, protecting dignity, and standing in solidarity with the people who make our world more beautiful and connected.

We know what it’s like to struggle. Many of us have been there: skipping meals, putting off medical care, choosing which bill can wait another month. That’s why this mission is personal. We’ve built the Thrive Fund to be what we once needed: a compassionate hand up when things get tight, not a judgment of worth.

Your support says loud and clear:
- Artists matter.
- Creativity matters.
- Community care matters.

Join us today and help artists not just survive, but thrive.

Every dollar helps. Every share matters. Every artist deserves the chance to keep creating.

Help Artists Thrive

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 five exhibitions
Distributed over $1,000 in honorarium awards and paid $850 directly to artists for their contributions

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.

Black Artist Forward

The Thrive Fund

#HelpusThrive

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