Tkay Maidza, Miiesha and Jerome Farah showcased in YouTube’s Black Voices Fund

Three Australian acts have been included in YouTube’s new Black Voices Fund, which was first announced back in June last year.

The fund is a multi-year investment in Black artists on the video platform, who will receive partner support, seed funding for their YouTube channels and access to training and networking programs focused on production, fan engagement and wellbeing.

“From fashion and comedy to politics, learning and wellness, and with innovations and contributions in every genre of music, Black creators and artists have propelled our platform forward,” a YouTube blog post read.

“The #YouTubeBlack community is filled with so many talented, brilliant, passionate, and driven creatives, and we’re honoured to equip these awesome creators and artists with additional resources to match their drive.”

Australian artists joining the class of 2021 are Adelaide R&B act Tkay Maidza, ARIA winner Miiesha, and rapper Jerome Farah.

In 2020, Maidza released her eight-track EP ‘Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2’, Miiesha’s debut album ‘Nyaaringu’ earned her the ARIA Award for Best Soul/R&B Release, and Farah released a handful of singles, including the debut solo ‘I Can’t Breathe’.

“Doing music as a career didn’t really seem possible where I come from, but every little chance I had I took, no matter how scary,” Miiesha said in a statement.

“Each time someone would be there to encourage me to keep going. My identity as an Aboriginal-Torres Strait woman is everything. It has shaped the world around me, the stories I tell, and where I’m headed.”

The Aussie artists join 129 other creators from around the world, spanning beauty vloggers, poets, teachers, photographers, activists and more.