A collaborative effort between Instagram’s Design Studio, the Brooklyn Museum, and a group of established designers has birthed an opportunity for emerging Black designers and to bloom fully into their highest creative potential.

On Tuesday, June 15, the #BlackDesignVisionaries grant program, aimed at elevating the work of Black designers, was officially launched with an announcement from Instagram’s official design account, @Design.

“@design is committed to uplifting underrepresented voices and championing inclusivity and accessibility, which is why we’re delighted to launch #BlackDesignVisionaries,” Instagram’s Head of Design, Ian Spalter, said in a press statement. “We hope that the craft, passion, and creativity of our grant committee and partners, as well as Instagram’s design values, will inspire designers to share their dreams with us.”

“Black culture and talent have a monumental influence in the design world, yet are often overlooked and undervalued. Our exhibitions and programs seek to engage audiences by uplifting the often underrepresented stories and narratives of art history,” Brooklyn Museum Director of Marketing, Laval Bryant-Quigley said in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with Instagram’s @design to create more inclusive opportunities to amplify more diverse voices in design.”

The initiative aims to award a total of $130,000 in grants. Three Aspiring Designer Grants worth $10,000 each will go to Black designers between the ages of 18 and 30, while a $100,000 Small Business Grant will be given to a Black-led design business that has been in operation for less than 10 years.

“Design forms the foundation of our lives,” says Kristen Joy Watts, a creative director at Instagram, in a press release announcing the grant program. “If we succeed in pushing culture forward and building a more equitable global design community, we will be serving not just Black designers but everyone who will benefit from a more diverse representation of design talent shaping our world.”

Applications will be reviewed by a highly qualified committee made up of some of the most notable Black designers. The committee will be led by Gagosian Gallery director Antwaun Sargent and includes Jungalow founder and creative director Justina Blakeney, Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, Champions Design cofounder Bobby C. Martin Jr., and Elle Décor EIC Asad Syrkett, among others.

In addition, each grant recipient will also earn one year of personalized mentorship, along with regular check-ins and advice from a small team of mentors who will be chosen and supported by @design’s three partner organizations - Chicago Mobile Makers, The Hidden Genius Project, and Inneract Project - and grant committee.

Applications for the #BlackDesignVisionaries grant program are now open until July 16 and winners will be announced in the Fall.