The Black Utopian Fellowship is an incubator Fellowship created by #DayonesArt in collaboration with Culture Push. The BUF is a year-long Fellowship for Black artists, researchers, scientists and inventors, with career development and mentorship through a connection with Black-run institutions. The intent of the Black Utopian Fellowship is to share resources and support social engagement, educational programming, and revitalization of communal hubs.

We will be accepting proposals for projects that are direct instances of Research, Health, Design, and Social interest in regards to Black Futures. (Please look at the links above to get a sense of the types of projects that could be included in “Black Utopian Fellowship: Rituals Re-Imagined.”)  As with our other Fellowships, the Black Utopian Fellow is supported with all the resources of the Fellowship for Utopian Practice for one full year.

The Fellowship for Utopian Practice is a testing ground for untested and new ideas that aim to create positive social change through civic engagement and horizontal learning opportunities. Through the Fellowship for Utopian Practice, Culture Push serves artists by providing creative, analytical, and logistical tools in the creation of truly transformative projects. Pre-existing performances, established projects, and fully funded works are not eligible to apply. Learn more about our Guidelines, and how to apply here.

The Fellowship program is open to Black artists and other professionals working in any discipline who wish to expand the boundaries of their practice. Applicants are encouraged to review our organization’s mission before submitting materials as well as the specific nature of this Open Call. We will award The Black Utopian Fellowship to one applicant. 

APPLICATIONS CLOSED.

BLS Program 2023

“Coming in Stories: Conversations w/ Black LGBTQ Elders in Harlem” is a project focused on conducting interviews of Black LGBTQ elders in Harlem. The goal is to have them share their stories of  coming into themselves, what that felt like and what that looked like. - Yanni Young

ReCap: Let’s Talk Nia Artist Talk 2022

Let’s Talk Nia, is an annual meet and greet with the Black Utopian Fellows past and incoming fellows - introducing their practice, speaking about their projects and expressing their ideas in regards to purpose.  This artist talk takes place during the week of our annual Kwanzaa Krush Fundraiser. To see the full unedited talk please reach out to dayonesart@gmail.com as this talk is not available to the public.

Black Utopian Fellows

2022-2023 Fellow

Yanni Young

Yanni Young is a Black, queer, multi-disciplinary artist born and raised in Harlem, NYC. Yanni grew up performing in plays, musicals, played piano for five years and attended a performing arts high school as a vocal major. Other mediums that Yanni has explored have been podcasting as well as documentary filmmaking. For two years Yanni had a podcast called "Soul Rebel Podcast" centering Black artists, healers, and grassroots organizers, allowing them to speak on their work and their life journey that led to where they are in the present. They currently intern for a Black jewelry brand based in Brooklyn by the name of Heavy Metals NYC. Yanni is also an administrative assistant and teaching artist with the LEAP program of NYC in Brooklyn.

“Coming in Stories: Conversations w/ Black LGBTQ Elders in Harlem” is a project focused on conducting interviews of Black LGBTQ elders in Harlem. The goal is to have them share their stories of  coming into themselves, what that felt like and what that looked like.

2021-2022 Fellow

ANN BENNETT

Ann Bennett is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, multimedia producer, and teaching artist who has devoted her career to telling diverse stories through film, television, interactive projects, museum installations, and live events. She produced the NAACP Image Award–winning documentary Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People, as well as the multi-platform community engagement initiative “Digital Diaspora Family Reunion.”' Ann is currently producer on the feature-length documentary RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE about Climate Gentrification in Miami, Florida. Bennett’s past film credits include Citizen King and Fisk Jubilee Singers for the PBS series American Experience, Hymn for Alvin Ailey for Dance in America and the award-winning PBS miniseries Africans in America. Bennett holds a master’s degree from the Columbia Journalism School and graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies. She has won several fellowships, including a Logan Nonfiction Fellowship, an Impact Partners Documentary Producers Fellowship, Laundromat Project Create Change Fellowship and is currently a 2021/22 Sundance Institute Producing Fellow. Bennett’s multi-platform projects explore the nexus of history, culture, and technology within multicultural communities.

Her Project is LINEAGE LAUNCHPAD © - ANCESTORS’ TONIC

2020-2021 Fellow

Dennis Redmoon Darkeem

Dennis RedMoon Darkeem is inspired to create artwork based on the familiar objects he views through his daily travels. He discovers elements in existing architecture and among everyday items found within the home. Darkeem ultimately set out to express a meaningful story about events in his life and the lives of people in the communities where he lives and works. Darkeem utilizes multiple mediums in his work. This creates a rich viewer experience as the eye uncovers the multiple layers.

Since starting his work as a professional interdisciplinary artist in the early 2000s, it has evolved into critiquing social and political issues affecting Indigenous & All black people . Much of Darkeem’s art has focused on issues like institutionalized racism and classism, jarring stereotypes, and the displacement of people of color.

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His project is PROJECT: MEN OF COLOR HEALING ARTS CENTER

SUPPORT

WELCOME TO KWANZAA KRUSH 2022!

Denae Howard (Director of the Black Utopian Fellowship) and #DayOnesArt would like to invite you our Year End Fundraiser!  The Black Utopian Fellowship, an incubator created by #DayOnesArt in collaboration with Culture Push, is a year-long Fellowship for Black artists, researchers, scientists, and inventors, with career development and mentorship through a connection with Black-run institutions. The Fellowship shares resources and supports social engagement, educational programming, and revitalizing community hubs.

We are aiming to bring in $5000 to aid us in fulfilling our commitments here is how you can help!

“Wealth (among the Dagara) is determined not by how many things you have, but by how many people you have around you.”- Malidoma Patrice Somé