5 Ways to Help Marginalized Creatives During tough times
YOUR CREATIVE HOMIES NEED YOUR HELP!
“Hey I want to support you but I don't know how?”
It may interest you to know that 89.29% of the design/creative workforce in the US is White. Not surprising. The ever-growing creative industry is one of the least diverse industries in the US. Creators, designers, and artists of color face countless hurdles in many stages of the process when discovering their passion for art and design.
I can already hear it “Shouldn't we be helping all creatives, not just some” to that I would say yes, AND creatives of color and queer creatives face different challenges.
We face opportunity gaps in the creative journey. They come in the form of :
Access to monetary resources for education and living expenses
Access to education - formal and informal
Access to professional opportunities in both full time and freelance
There is a lot we can do as consumers of creativity to highlight, uplift and ultimately get more marginalized creators paid and hired.
Here are just a couple of ways you can help by using what resources are available right now.
Educate yourself - Above and beyond and the bare minimum at the same time….
One of the best ways to help creatives of color and creators from marginalized communities is independently educating yourselves on the oppression, misogyny, and homophobia that constantly plagues our communities.
Taking the time to learn and educate yourself allows you to better see the systems in place that continue to put us down. Making yourself more aware allows you to be better able to change these systems and advocate for the progression of marginalized communities.
This step is the best way to call yourself an ally and make the commitment to become a better human being in the never-ending pursuit of justice and equity.
The Harvard Gazette provides a great list of reading material to get you started on this step. See that here
I hope I didn't lose you here. This is truly the single best way to help creatives. Things get easier from here
Social Media - Ok now we can start easy
Like, Comment, Share
Social media is an incredible tool when it comes to uplifting marginalized creatives. This though is the bare minimum. When you see an artist you really enjoy on social media
try sending their work to a friend, sharing them on your story, and add a touch of personality by saying why you love them so much.
You never know who's eye you may catch.
Instagram specifically
Save, Share, Comment, Like - Prioritize those actions in that order to maximize algorithmic momentum.
Interact with More reels - As TikToks growth looms, Instagram is really pushing reels and this means that they make a huge impact on how we get promoted as creators.
Direct Help - Kicking it up a notch
Referrals - Ask what they want to be known for
As creatives, it can be easy to get lumped into one category. “You design logos right?” It is important to know what someone can and can't do. Simply asking:
“ Hey, I love your work and want to refer you when the opportunity comes! What do you want to be known for?”
or
“What Kind of work are you currently looking for”
This can go a very very long way. You might love an illustrator and then refer someone to them who needs a logo. Creatives are all different but knowing what value they bring to the creative industries nuances is important
Sharing shops - MERCH MERCH MERCH
A lot of creatives, including the YAMZ: world of Color, have shops that sell their work, from prints and stickers to apparel and accessories. This is one of the best ways to directly support them. Most of that money will go directly back to them in the form of much-needed cash
Also, While money is great, buying someone's art is a huge motivation booster. It is one of the best ways to show us you care and support our work!
You didn't just buy something, you can share the story behind that art and the incredible artist behind it.
Put their names in the mix - Drop it in the hat
Now you know what kind of work they are looking for
When you see or hear of an opportunity do not be afraid to send it to them via Instagram DM. I don’t mind any artistic opportunities that come my way because I get to decide if they are right for me and I bet most creatives wouldn't either. Big emphasis on paying opportunities too.
Some of my biggest projects have come because my supporters went out of their way to put my name out there or send me an opportunity.
The more we can get other people to put our names out there, the more trust we gain as professionals
These are a couple of ways that can move the needle forward for many creatives from marginalized backgrounds. I hope you were able to take something away from this and can make a commitment to uplifting more artists from marginalized identities.
If you ever have a question on how to take this up a notch feel free to reach out to me on any social media platform!
Sending Much Love!
YAMZ aka Brayan
