BLACK ARTIST GUILD

What BLACK ARTIST GUILD does

Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 by Malene Barnett and headquartered in Brooklyn, NY. It operates a community platform supporting Black artists, designers, and makers of African descent through four interconnected initiatives: BADG Lab (immersive art installations and public art projects), BADG Lifestyle (brand licensing and product development partnerships such as the BADG x S.Harris Collection), BADG Education (grants and residencies including the 2025 Creative Futures Grant), and BADG of Honor (annual awards ceremony and fundraiser).

The organization has no proprietary technology and runs on a Squarespace-based web presence at badguild.info. Its distribution is digital-first with global reach for content and donations, supplemented by high-profile institutional partnerships including the Smithsonian Design Triennial at the Cooper Hewitt Museum and a public mural collaboration with Colossal Media/Lamar Advertising deployed on 375 digital billboards nationwide.

BADG is funded through a donation-based model combining individual contributions, corporate sponsorships, brand licensing royalties, and event-based fundraising. The organization employs 1-10 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors. Its competitive positioning is built on cultural prestige, the founder's personal brand as a Fulbright-recognized authority on African diaspora art, and a diversified programmatic ecosystem that serves as the only guild specifically dedicated to Black artists and designers in the creative industries.

Name

BLACK ARTIST GUILD

Legal name

Black Artist & Designers Guild Inc

Website

https://badguild.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Nonprofit Organization

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Arts nonprofit organization
• Artist community platform
• Creative grants funding
• Brand licensing partnerships
• Craft education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time, monthly, or annual donations from individuals supporting the mission of empowering Black makers. Contributions support BADG Lab, Education, and Lifestyle initiatives.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Recurring or one-time donations from corporations supporting equitable and inclusive creative cultures for Black makers.
3. Brand Partnerships and Licensing: Licensing and product development partnerships at the brand level, producing collaborative collections under the BADG umbrella (e.g., BADG x S.Harris Collection).
4. Event Fundraising: BADG of Honor awards ceremony and fundraiser generates support for BADG Lab and Education Initiatives, including grants and immersive programming.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports Black artists and designers through grants, residencies, immersive installations, brand licensing partnerships, signature events, and educational programming. The organization operates four main pillars: BADG Lab (art installations and residencies), BADG Lifestyle (licensing and product development), BADG Education (grants and learning programs), and BADG of Honor (annual awards ceremony and fundraiser).

Product overview

BADG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a platform empowering Black artists and designers. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs: BADG Lab provides space and support for artists to create immersive art and design projects; BADG Lifestyle handles licensing and product development partnerships; BADG Education funds grants and residencies for creative professionals; and BADG of Honor serves as an annual awards ceremony. Key projects include The Underground Library exhibition at the Smithsonian Design Triennial, the Facing Futures Mural in Brooklyn, and various art installations at venues like Design Miami and Texas Contemporary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BADG Lab: Provides space and support for Black artists and designers to express their artistry, liberated from the constraints of client specifications.
• BADG Lifestyle
• BADG Education

Products and services

• BADG Lab
• BADG Lifestyle
• BADG Education
• BADG of Honor

Quantifiable outcome

• Featured over 20 makers from Africa and its diaspora in the Smithsonian Design Triennial exhibition (open until August 10, 2025)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• S.Harris CollectionflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBADG partnered with S.Harris Collection at the brand level for licensing and product development. The collaboration produces new works and collaborative collections under the BADG umbrella, extending the organization's reach into commercial markets.
• Colossal MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Colossal Media (Lamar Advertising's mural division) to create 'Futures Facing,' a 20' x 45' hand-painted wallscape mural in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The artwork celebrates Black imagination and collective action and was created in celebration of Black History Month.
• Lamar AdvertisingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLamar Advertising and its Colossal Media division partnered with BADG for the mural project. Additionally, the 'Futures Facing' artwork is displayed on 375 Lamar digital billboards across the country, providing extensive marketing reach.
• Smithsonian Institution / Cooper Hewitt MuseumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBADG was invited to create an immersive space (The Underground Library) for the Smithsonian Design Triennial at the Cooper Hewitt Museum. The exhibition features art and design from over 20 makers from Africa and its diaspora and is open until August 10, 2025.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• S.Harris Collection: A textile and wallcovering company whose flagship licensing partnership with BADG (BADG x S.Harris Collection) produces collaborative product lines. Comparable as a commercial counterparty operating at the intersection of design, craft, and Black-led creative partnerships.
• Colossal Media: Lamar Advertising's mural division that co-produced the 'Futures Facing' wallscape with BADG in Williamsburg. Comparable as a partner enabling BADG's public art and out-of-home visibility at national scale.

Emerging players

• Hood Design Studio: A Black-led design and art practice founded by Walter Hood focused on cultural landscapes and community-centered design. Comparable as a Black creative practice that sits at the intersection of art, design, and community impact, and a 2021 BADG Founder Award recipient.

Direct peers

• Designers of Color: A community platform elevating designers of color through directories, events, and programming. Directly comparable to BADG as a community-led organization serving underrepresented creative professionals, with overlapping audience and mission.
• ArtLeadher: A community platform founded by Mashonda Tifrere supporting underrepresented artists through programming, exhibitions, and mentorship. Directly comparable to BADG as a similarly sized nonprofit membership community for creatives of color, and a past BADG of Honor award recipient.
• Black Reconstruction Collective: A collective-impact organization of Black architects, designers, and artists working on equity in the built environment. Highly comparable to BADG's mission of elevating Black creativity and collective practice, and a 2023 BADG Collective Circle Award recipient.

Regional players

• New Museum: A New York-based contemporary art museum that has historically championed under-recognized artists and experimental practices. Comparable as a NYC-rooted arts institution supporting emerging and underrepresented artists, with overlapping curatorial ambitions to BADG's mission.

Broad incumbents

• Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum: The Smithsonian's design museum that hosted the Design Triennial in which BADG produced 'The Underground Library.' Comparable as the institutional platform validating BADG's curatorial work and as a benchmark for design-focused cultural institutions.
• AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts): The largest professional design organization in the US, running programming, awards, and community for designers. Comparable as a community-and-programming platform for creative professionals, though broader and more established than BADG.
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: The Smithsonian museum dedicated to African American art, history, and culture. Comparable as an established cultural institution centering Black creative and historical narratives, of which BADG is a smaller, community-focused complement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/badguild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BLACK ARTIST GUILD