Shutterstock has announced The Create Fund, a $300,000 artist grant program. The Create Fund provides financial and professional support for artists around the globe focusing on diversity, inclusion, social justice and environmental awareness through the content they create.

Through The Create Fund, Shutterstock aims to fill content gaps and further diversity and inclusion within its content library and contributor network. The financial and professional support will be offered to underrepresented artists who are advancing the global mission of diversity and inclusion through their visual content. To increase the reach of the grant program, The Create Fund will be partnering with a variety of leading organisations to support giving back and engaging with a variety of artist communities.

At launch, grants offered through The Create Fund include:

• Create for Climate: Drawing awareness to global climate change by supporting artists who use their talents to depict climate change, environmental protests, and our changing landscape.
• Support Invisible Illness: Promoting artists who create visual stories and representations that break the stigma around mental health, portraying a more inclusive view of mental illness around the world.
• The Senior Creatives: Supporting our community of senior creatives—those over 50 who have had years to hone their craft and want to share their experiences and perspectives through creative means.

“Representation, whether behind or in front of the lens, is integral in creating authentic content that accurately reflects the world around us,” said Shutterstock senior director of contributor marketing Kristen Sanger,  at . “With The Create Fund, we’re hoping to use this global platform to showcase the stunning, interesting, and culturally relevant imagery that reflects the beautifully diverse world we live in, as well as support and enable more artists to create and share their unique and artistic perspectives.”

Artists including photographers, videographers, illustrators, composers or writers are open and encouraged to apply. Applicants must submit a project proposal, examples of their work, and a short biography by February 8, 2021 to be considered for the first three grants. Grant recipients will be selected by a diverse panel of expert judges who are knowledgeable in the various genres of grants Shutterstock will be offering. All artists selected for a grant will be provided an outlet to license their work, either via Shutterstock, Shutterstock Editorial, Premium Beat or OFFSET.