Supporting Black Artists Who Are Examining AI

Technology has a complicated relationship with racial justice. Smartphones, internet platforms, and other digital tools can be used to document and expose racism. But digital tools can also fuel racism: smart doorbells surveil Black individuals. Facial recognition systems routinely misidentify Black faces. And recommendation algorithms can promote racist disinformation. As the AI in consumer technology grows more sophisticated and prevalent, this relationship will become even more complex.

Mozilla is announcing $245,000 in funding for Black artists who use art to spotlight how AI can reinforce — or disrupt — systems of oppression.

Grants will be made in amounts ranging from $10,000 to $30,000, and awardees may be based anywhere in the world. Winning projects could be interactive websites, short films, browser-based games, or other digital media capable of reaching a broad online audience.

Details and how to apply
The first step to applying for a Creative Media Award is to nominate an artist or yourself. If you are aware of an artist or technologist working in the areas outlined in the call for proposals, we encourage you to nominate them to apply. If you fulfil the requirements for this Award opportunity, please feel free to self-nominate and include an optional letter of support with your full application. The deadline to submit a nomination is September 14, 2020 at 12pm EDT.

To submit a nomination, visit https://mozilla.fluxx.io/apply/cma.

Eligible submissions must be at either the conceptual or prototype stage, must be digital in nature and, when complete, freely available and easily accessible. Applicants should self-identify as Black (African, African-American, Afro-Latino, African-diasporic or of African descent). These awards are open to all applicants regardless of geographic location or institutional affiliation, except where legally prohibited.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges who are artists, technologists, and activists working in the same space.

For a comprehensive application guide, click here.