Imani Network is my multimedia platform designed to give urban artists of all disciplines access to professional video production services and social media marketing campaigns. I self-published the first season of content for 24 local artists from October to December in 2023, which included 300 posts and 200 videos across social media, gaining 100,00 views with a total reach of over 150,000 people. This effectively increased online engagement, bookings and sales for those artists.

To publish the first season of the network, I had to deplete my personal savings and take time off from my career as a producer / editor to shoot, edit and distribute all the content myself. I am seeking this award to produce a second season of content in 2024 for up to 50 artists through my partnerships with some of the top urban arts curators in the city including Blakwater House, Motor House, The Mini Hip Hop Museum, Verse Vibez Showcase, and Bmore Than Dance. Some confirmed artists for this season are Baltimore dance icon TSU Terry, rising rap star Run It Up Jordan, hip hop violinist L Stringz, local jazz master Rufus Roundtree, and the amazing visual artist Mama Nef’fahtiti Partlow-Myrick. A Baker Artist Award would support me to shoot, edit, construct new sets, manage social media channels, promote and distribute season two.

My goal is to build on the success of the first season of the network in order to increase the positive returns for every featured artist. By bridging the technology gap for under-exposed artists, I plan to help them stand out in the new media market and better their chances of making a living off their art.