About

In nature, an ecosystem is a dynamic complex of living and non-living entities that come together and interact within an environment. Adapted from lessons of nature, a Black creative ecosystem (BCE) is a communal environment that explores, learns, strategizes, builds, and dreams from realms of Black art and imagination.

BCEs enact communal creativity that is rooted in radical Black thought as a method of both imagining and creating worlds that divest from practices of domination. We understand radical Black thought as praxis rooted in Black trans disabled histories and futures that call in realities where all have the access to agency and thrivability. BCEs recognize and tend to communal creativity as a tool for supporting Black agency, community, care, and futurity. BCEs support cultures of learning, care, and interdependence through art and creative practice.

To be used as a resource, map, and constellation for Black creative ecosystems and Black people to more accessibly find one another, so that we can learn from each other, collaborate, and grow.

Collective work is the focus of BCEs. BCEs include, but are not limited to: collectives, incubators, residencies, labels, parties, galleries, publishers, studios, spaces, or other forms of environment made up of a group of people collectively working together towards a common shared goal that is rooted in supporting and nourishing Black creative and arts practices and knowledge.

We accept global submissions of BCEs on a slow and rolling basis. Submit here. We will read your submission and get in touch once reviewed. To be listed a submission must meet all of of the following conditions of a BCE:

• Be a communal environment made up of a group of people collectively together towards a shared purpose, initiative, or goal that is rooted in Black art or creative work
• Have directive initiatives to nourish Black art or creative work
  
• Rooted in radical Black thought (please read our section “What is a creative ecosystem” to see our definition)
• Be Black-led
• Work outside of the non-profit industrial complex
• Have publically accessible resources or events

We define a digital garden as an online ecosystem that values pluralism (a diversity of views rather than a single approach), interdependence, discovery, and a culture of learning. Digital gardens require attention and intention to grow, and embrace change and adaption. Digital gardens recognize that gardens can get messy and can move through periods of rot, weeds, or death. Digital gardens embrace slowness and sustainability over rapidness.

Digital gardens depart from understandings of gardening rooted in white supremacy, and instead reimagine digital space through Black speculative and feminist thought, slow web, AI, disability, design, queer and trans justice, and other modes of thought. Learn more about digital gardens here.

Annika Hansteen-Izora (they/she/he) is the creator and tender of this digital garden and directory. They are an artist and writer from East Palo Alto, CA and Portland, OR currently based in Brooklyn, NY. They explore digital worlds, dimensions of care, poetry and nature through a Black-trans-disabled lens.

Email blackcreativeecosystems@gmail.com, reach out on instagram @creativeecosystems or on twitter @blkcreativeeco.

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