Getty Images in collaboration with Verizon, has announced its latest global Creative Grant program focused on disability communities.
Aimed at elevating photographers and videographers as they work to capture and share much-needed visual stories emphasizing the “community” aspect of disability communities themselves, the Grant comes on the heels of The Disability Collection, a joint effort launched in 2018 by both companies in conjunction with the National Disability Leadership Alliance to more authentically represent people with disabilities in the media. This Grant will aim to portray a diverse range of people, groups and experiences within the disability community in a variety of settings.
“In media and advertising, people with disabilities are often visualized alone, or as the only person with a disability in a community,” said Dr. Rebecca Swift, Creative Grant Judge and Global Head of Creative Insights at Getty Images. “Building on our ongoing work with the Disability Collection, our aim is to help content creators, brands and agencies emphasize the true nature of what it means to be part of the wider disability community.”
As one of the largest technology communications companies in the world, Verizon is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and to making our digital space accessible to all. Through efforts like the Valuable 500, Verizon’s Disability Advisory Board, and the Forward for Good Disability Innovation Accelerator, Verizon invests in an accessible future.
“Verizon proudly supported the first Creative Grant,” said Zachary Bastian, Manager, Strategic Alliances, Verizon. “The results, which beautifully and honestly depicted life with a disability, exceeded our high expectations. We are proud to work again with Getty Images and the National Disability Leadership Alliance to expand this collection. Our relationships with disability communities are crucial to our mission of digital inclusion. Verizon celebrates this collaboration, a special opportunity to explore all the ways people come together.”
Recognizing the challenges faced by photographers worldwide as they look to break into the commercial industry, the Getty Images’ Creative Grant consistently seeks to discover and nurture creative talent while also alleviating some of the financial hurdles they face to capture authentic content. The additional monetary and promotional support from Verizon also ensures a greater reach to potentially interested photographers.
Open to photographers and videographers globally, and supported by a matching grant by Verizon, Disability Communities is a one-time Grant, awarding one recipient $15,000, one recipient $10,000 and three recipients $5,000 each, as determined by an esteemed panel of creative industry judges and disability activists. The Grant seeks diverse perspectives and photographers and videographers with disabilities are specifically encouraged to apply.
For more information, go to https://wherewestand.gettyimages.com/grants/.
To apply, visit: https://grants.gettyimages.com/en/grants
