Getty Images Inc.

05/20/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/20/2022 05:09

Getty Images and Verizon Announce $40,000 Creative Grant to Support and Encourage Authentic Representation of Disability Communities

May 20, 2022 • Company News

New York - May 20, 2022: Getty Images, a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace, 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.

Shortlisted photography and video projects will be judged by a panel that will include:

- Shani Dhanda: Inclusion Specialist; Social Entrepreneur

- Andraéa LaVan t: President and Chief Inclusion Officer, LaVant Consulting Inc.

- Nolan Ryan Trowe: Professor & Multimedia Artist; winner of the 2019 Disability Stories Creative Grant

- Lawrence Carter-Long: Media Professional and Disability Advocate

- Dr. Rebecca Swift< /a>: Global Head of Creative Insights at Getty Images

Content creators are encouraged to apply before June 30, 2022, at which point the application period will close. Recipients of the Creative Grant will be announced during the week of July 25, 2022, coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

To apply, photographers and videographers must submit the following:

- Links to existing portfolio of work online

- The submission must include: a 200-500-word summary of the project proposal and an inspirational mood board

- A short essay that outlines the approach

- Proposals must be in English

- Submissions must be digital

Grant recipients are invited to license their award-winning content through GettyImages.com, at a 100% royalty rate for imagery created within their proposed project. Entrants will also receive guidance and mentorship from one of Getty Images' award-winning Art Directors, as well as a feature on Getty Images' Creative Insights website, in addition to promotion across relevant social channels. Please note, this additional support is not a requirement of the Creative Grant and is at the discretion of each recipient.

Note that the Getty Images Creative Grants are a core piece of the wider Getty Images Grants program, collectively aimed at supporting the world's photographic and photojournalism community. Since the inception of the program in 2004, the company has awarded in excess of US $2.4 million, furthering our commitment to the craft of photography and bringing attention to important stories that without funding, may otherwise remain unseen. Further details on the Getty Images grants program available here: https://wherewestand.gettyimages.com/grants/.

To apply, visit: https://grants.gettyimages.com/en/grants/disability-communities-creative-grant-2022

Image credit: fotostorm/Getty Images

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