ABOUT BNA
BNA is the space Black creatives built when we couldn’t find one.
We’re a community of animators, writers, directors, and artists brought together by a shared instinct to leave a mark on the stories that shape our world.
It began with a belief that still guides everything we do: Black creatives deserve space, access, and the freedom to tell stories with their truth.
Since our rebrand in 2022, we’ve hosted Career Summits, taken the stage at Comic-Con, WonderCon, and LightBox Expo, and joined conversations with groups like the California Film Commission to push for real change. At the same time, we stay grounded in direct support by offering workshops, resources through our Discord, and most recently, our Artist Fellowship, which puts investment behind Black voices.
We pay close attention to our members and to the shifting landscape of the industry, and we build programming that reflects that. Nothing we do is one-size-fits-all. Our approach is practical and designed to meet artists where they are while helping them level up.
What makes BNA what it is is the heart we put into everything. From a large scale workshop to the tip of Nia’s striped tail — everything we do is thought out and specific.
We’re led by working industry professionals, but they are artists first and foremost, and that shapes how we move. We understand the challenges because we live them, and we see the opportunities because we’re actively building toward them. This perspective keeps our work focused, honest, and connected to our mission of getting Black creatives a permanent seat at the table.
BNA continues to evolve alongside its community, and remains a place to create, connect, and grow together.
OUR PROGRAMMING
BNA is all about giving Black creatives real tools, real access, and real momentum at every stage of their journey.
We run classes, workshops, panels, and conversations that bring artists face-to-face with working professionals and the industry in a way that actually feels useful, not just an info dump. We partner with studios and similar organizations to help shape talent development programs that better serve artists and the stories they’re trying to tell.
For folks building something of their own, our Artist Fellowship is where we help jumpstart indie projects by offering mentor support, structure, and promotion to give their stories visibility.
We’re always adding and evolving what we offer, so the best way to stay in the loop is to reach out anytime at blacknanimated@gmail.com.
Nia is BNA’s mascot and was a bit of a happy accident. But she pounced into our hearts and now represents the spirit of BNA.
She’s thoughtful, empathetic, and endlessly curious, with a quiet confidence that shows up in everything she creates. Nia is most at home with a brush in her hand or paint on her paws, drawn to traditional mediums where she can feel every line, texture, and color come to life.
As a white tiger, she represents something rare and intentional — a reminder that there’s power in being specific, in standing out, and in creating with meaning.
Nia’s name means “purpose” — and she brings that meaning to the community around her.
