Cohort III features 28 talented artists whose disciplines range from visual and folk, to literary and performing arts.

NY, New York - December 10, 2021

Cohort III of the Caribbean Cultural African Diaspora Institute’s Digital Evolution Artist Retention (DEAR) intensive fellowship kicks off their participation with a virtual retreat taking place throughout December 2021. The retreat is a central part of the program which aims to tackle the challenges of the moment by exploring a range of tools and practices that cut across disciplines and levels of experience to further strengthen artists’ ability to create, teach, and promote their work in our present context and beyond. Throughout the retreat artists will engage in master workshops that cover Artist/Project Narrative Development, Social Media and Digital Strategy, Grant Writing, Intellectual Property Rights, and Virtual Presenting.

The DEAR Fellowship was created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide resources and an opportunity for artists, primarily of African descent, to learn, plan, network and grow in order to create sustainable practices. Now, nearly two years after the start of this health crisis, artists are still trying to recover and the need for supportive spaces continues to be present.

This group of 28 talented artists represent the full spectrum of artistic disciplines and bring a unique set of experiences to this cohort. Some members have had existing relationships with CCCADI for years, while others are joining the community for the first time. Many are tuning in from various regions of the country. Yet, they share a common thread: the tremendous loss they’ve endured during the pandemic.

As artists, some suffered the loss of studio spaces after the nonprofits that housed them collapsed and the loss of income from contracts and in-person opportunities that they’re still trying to recover. Others suffered the loss of creativity, inspiration and communal connection. Now, in support of their resilience and artistic practice, as they make their way through the DEAR Fellowship program and become CCCADI alumni, they’ll each unlock ongoing access to a network of peers, resources and opportunities.

Congratulations to the artists of DEAR Cohort III, all of whom encapsulate the richness of the African Diaspora through their representation of a diverse set of cultures such as Haitian, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian, Dominican, Bajan, Afro-Indigenous, Cuban, Jamaican, African American and Mexican, to name a few! 

Participating Artists: 

Pictured L-R

To learn more about the Digital Evolution Artist Retention Fellowship Program visit: www.cccadi.org/dear