This issue of NFTs Driving Change highlights Zora’s Black History Month campaign featuring nine Black artists from Web3.
I think Sunday mornings are for lazy breakfasts and good reading in bed. But if the first signs of spring have started to show in your part of the world, take your reading outside and touch some grass! While I can’t promise you a great read, I do guarantee something to ponder, something inspiring, or maybe even a shred of hope. It’s a sunny day here in Norwich, and my heart is full in a way only bright sunny mornings can (live in England for five months and you’ll start to appreciate the sun more).
welcome to NFTs driving change—a bi-monthly column highlighting projects and creators using NFTs and other Web3 tools to create real-world impact. In this issue, I’ll introduce you to Zora’s Black History Month campaign in the NFT marketplace that celebrates Black Web3 artists.
Web3 is promising. But where is the representation?
In the last two years, Web3 has come a long way. The industry is evolving with wonderful new projects, better visions, new players and so on. However, representation is still lacking. Sure, there are more people from underrepresented communities on Web3 today than there were two years ago, but it’s hardly enough.
In fact, a recent report by BCG X, Boston Consulting Group’s technology build and design unit, and the People of Crypto Lab highlighted Web3’s gender diversity issue. According to the reportonly 13% of Startups web3 include a female founder. Similarly, a report 2022 found that 62% of cryptocurrency owners are white men. Another said that black women conform only 4% of cryptocurrency investors globally.
However, the good news is that people are taking notice. More and more projects are actively promoting diversity and inclusion in the space. The latest addition to this is the Black History Month campaign from the NFT marketplace, Zora.
About Zora’s Black History Month Campaign
On Friday, February 17, Zora launched her Black History Month campaign to cheer on nine Black Web3 artists. Titled “The Let Out,” the campaign is a celebration of the artists and creators shaping the history and future of Black Web3. Created in collaboration with multidisciplinary queer artist Brittany Pierre, the campaign will feature nine timed open editions.
Curated by Pierre, the Black History Month campaign will run through mid-March, with one NFT drop each week. More importantly, Zora will award 1 ETH to each artist through its curation program. In addition to Pierre, participating artists include Ilitch Peters Aaron Ricketts, Jamee Cornelia, Jah, Latasha, and Tuan.
One of the currently live artworks is BLQR by Jamee Cornelia. A moving mixed-media collage, the piece is a “love letter” to the “Black Queer and Trans Community in Atlanta.” Additionally, Cornelia will donate 50% of the proceeds to Southern Fried Queer Pride and House of Alxndr.
Without a doubt, this campaign is very similar to the Queer Museum of Digital Art (QMoDA) artist scholarship program launched last month at Zora. He supported 10 queer artists with 1 ETH each.
How it all started
Interestingly, the Black History Month campaign began with a tweet from Pierre:
“You know what would be really cool? If a big project or platform had a really cool drop of African American artists commissioning in this space to do some pieces and airshipping it to their supports for BHM. Commissioned like in 10-20 creatives paid 2-5 eth each.”
Nearly a month later, that vision has now come true. In fact, the above tweet itself is available as NFT to mint.
Commenting on the campaign, Dee Goens, founder and COO of Zora, added: “…at Zora we have always focused on building the necessary tools to bring diversity and creativity to the chain”.
Hopefully other Web3 projects and platforms will follow suit with such essential initiatives. That being said, campaigns like this one will have more impact if they involve more women and LGBTQIA+ artists.
If you loved this, be sure to check out our previous issues on Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova and Rejell’s NFT drop.
All investment/financial opinions expressed by NFTevening.com are not recommendations.
This article is educational material.
As always, do your own research before making any type of investment.
