MEDIA RELEASE
Date: 2 Sep 2024
Awesome Black, First Nations creative agency, is announcing a significant restructuring of its operations to better align with our long term mission and values. This decision, though challenging, is essential to refocus our efforts and ensure a sustainable future for our work in uplifting Blak voices in the creative industries.
The Restructure: Shelving Fear of a Blak Planet and Refocusing Awesome Black
As part of this restructure, Awesome Black has made the difficult decision to temporarily shelve the development of Fear of a Blak Planet, our game development project. Despite receiving significant positive press and recognition, we were unable to secure the necessary funding to bring this project to completion. This has been an incredibly tough decision, but it has become clear that we do not have the financial resources to continue at the level this project—and our team—deserve.
From Travis De Vries, Founder: ‘I want to personally thank all the staff who were a part of this project. I want to take a moment to recognise Ben Armstrong, who has been the backbone of our gaming efforts at Awesome Black. His dedication to the industry at large is nothing short of impressive. His contributions have been invaluable, and this decision does not reflect his and his team’s incredible work but rather the harsh realities of our current circumstances.
I want to extend a huge thank you to our partners at Screen Australia, Screen NSW, and the Powerhouse for their unwavering support throughout the development of Fear of a Blak Planet. Your belief in our project has been instrumental, and we are deeply grateful for your contributions.‘
Looking Forward
This restructure marks a new chapter for Awesome Black. By refocusing our efforts on our core strengths we are ensuring that we can continue to support Blakfullas in the most impactful way possible. While Fear of a Blak Planet may be on hold, our commitment to creative excellence and cultural representation remains unwavering.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we navigate this challenging time.
