Clear Channel, Pocc and Shutterstock launch second year of Art Fund

In 2021, Clear Channel x Pocc Art Fund promoted the profiles of 41 underrepresented and overlooked Black, Brown and ethnically diverse artists through outdoor media and social channels, delivering an estimated 6 million impressions. 

This year, alongside offering free outdoor media space in the UK to artists, with the support of Shutterstock, there will also be an investment of £15,000 in championing UK artists through artist grants. Across the year, Pocc will be launching four themes for artists to respond to in a bid to support a diverse range of creators with unique perspectives on topics that are relevant to the world today. 

This month, we’re kicking off with the first theme of the year: EQUITY - What Does It Mean To you? Artists are invited to submit their artistic expression of this brief for a chance to win £500 and have their work displayed across outdoor media in the UK. 

This opportunity is open to all visual and verbal artists of Black African, Caribbean and Asian descent residing in the UK. This is inclusive of photographers, illustrators, artists, painters, designers, motion graphic designers, creatives, copywriters. There is no age limit. Details on how to enter are here.

Caroline Forbes, Head of Sales - OOH Agencies and Fairness Executive Sponsor at Clear Channel said: “Having launched the Clear Channel x Pocc Art Fund last year, we have been blown away by the response from the artists and so proud to showcase their powerful artworks across our digital screens nationwide. We have been championing Out of Home as an inclusive channel and are committed to continue using our medium to give underrepresented communities more visibility in public spaces. With Shutterstock joining our efforts this year, we hope to make the 2022 Art Fund even bigger and more impactful.”

Shutterstock and Pocc also collaborated earlier this year to award six $1000 USD artist grants to Black artists residing in the U.S. and artists of East and South East Asian descent to celebrate U.S. Black History Month and Lunar New Year. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Pocc and Clear Channel to continue advocating for creative communities of color, amplifying the great work that they do,” said Meeckel Beecher, Global Head of DE&I at Shutterstock. “We hope these grants will help to support their work and we invite them to be a part of our network of two million contributors worldwide, to add their unique perspective to our collection, and help us on our mission to achieve authentic representation both behind and in front of the camera.”

Pocc was cofounded by Kevin Morosky and Nana Bempah to drive cultural change for the creative industry. Now home to 1000+ creative professionals of African, Caribbean and Asian descent spanning the U.K., Amsterdam and the U.S., Pocc builds programmes, events and opportunities to support the needs of their growing creative community. Alongside this Pocc also provides a range of cultural and creative services in Pocc Studios and Pocc Productions to create the work they want to see in the world with like-minded brands and organisations. 

“Personally, I love nothing more than providing a platform for fresh and seasoned talent alike to shine bright. These works will provide light and inspiration to many throughout the year. It really is at the heart of what we do at Pocc, and to be in this position once again with Clear Channel, this time with additional support from Shutterstock, is phenomenal”. Tash Beecher, Executive Creative Director at Pocc.