Awesome Black is a creative consultancy and studio dedicated to reshaping contemporary culture through a First Nations lens. We are artists, storytellers and cultural thinkers who bring a fresh, dynamic approach to creative projects. Our work spans across mediums, from audio and visual storytelling to curatorial practice and strategic consultation.
Founded in 2020 by, Gamilaroi and Dharug man, Travis De Vries, Awesome Black tells stories, makes cool sh*t happen and helps individual creatives and organisations execute meaningful, authentic and professionally awesome projects.
So, you wanna know what makes us officially Awesome? Well, we’re not your average creative agency…
We centre First Nations voices, stories and creatives in everything we do. And we can help bring your creative or cultural project to life. From video and podcasting to books, music, brand activations and digital art we do it all through a Black lens.
We believe in the power of stories to transform perspectives and foster connections. Our approach is grounded in authenticity, innovation, and respect for diversity of experiences. By combining artistic vision with strategic insight, we craft projects that are not only visually and culturally compelling but also resonate with audiences in a profound way.
We’re here to make sure First Nations creatives have access to industry-leading partnerships, resources and experiences that allow them to build sustainable careers doing what they love. We also help non-Indigenous organisations authentically engage with First Nations cultures and communities, to enrich the lives of their staff and audiences, find new (and centuries old) ways of doing things and, ultimately, support the world’s oldest continuing culture (because that’s about as awesome as it gets).
Through collaboration and a deep understanding of cultural narratives, we create spaces where contemporary ideas meet tradition, producing work that challenges, inspires and uplifts. At Awesome Black, we are not just creating for the now—we’re shaping the future of storytelling and cultural engagement.
While that would be enough, that’s not all. We are a creative agency that brings together artistic vision from across the creative sphere to collaborate on your projects and build our own. We’re passionate about how we create; the process of bringing to life something that makes audiences say… damn.
We’re artists, curators, designers, editors, producers, content creators, writers, collaborators. We look at the big picture and the small. We love the experience of making.
This is pretty simple, really – if there is a First Nations person or business that can help us make something happen, we will find a way to get them involved. If that person or business doesn’t exist, we ask how we can change that. That’s it!
We craft systems and opportunities that put First Nations people first. Ensuring agency and wealth stays in, and is controlled by, our communities, is at the core of everything we do.
We work tirelessly to create opportunities for deeper engagement between diverse, authentic First Nations perspectives and their audiences, and work tirelessly to find, engage with, and showcase awesome First Nations creators.
We respect each other, the different mobs we come from, and the different ways we do things, making sure that everything we do is right for each individual and their personal cultural connections.
We are committed to working with First Nations creatives and providing access to the necessary community connections, spaces, equipment and knowledge to empower First Nations creatives to create genuine, heartfelt and meaningful art.
We make awesome shit and we make shit awesome. We’re innovative and adaptable and we break old, outdated systems to do things in better, cooler ways.
We work hard to create amazing content and amplify Black voices, and we love it. We take pride in everything we do and in the impact the things that we do have on the world.
The Awesome Black Foundation was established to fulfil our deep commitment to supporting the First Nations creative community. It plays a crucial role in empowering First Nations creators to achieve financial sustainability through educational programs, skills development and access to supportive and collaborative networks.
As the not-for-profit arm of the Awesome Black business, the functioning of the Foundation relies on the commercial work of Awesome Black. We provide our partners with the opportunity to further support our work by contributing an additional 5% of project costs directly to the Foundation.This collaboration is vital to the continued sustainability of the Foundation and a way of non-Indigenous organisations to make a significant impact on the lives of First Nations creators and their wider communities.
It’s important to note that the Awesome Black Foundation is a registered charity. This means that the 5% donation you choose to make is not just an act of generosity; it can also translate into valuable tax benefits for you. Your contribution doesn’t just make a difference; it also makes sense for your financial well-being. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the First Nations creative community while enjoying the benefits of giving back.
At Awesome Black, we’re all about working together to make awesome sh*t happen. We believe working with Indigenous creatives shouldn’t be relegated to one week in July and we want to help your organisation authentically and appropriately collaborate with First Nations legends year-round. Whatever the project, Awesome Black will work with you to make it a success.
If you want to keep up-to-date on all AB partnership opportunities, or just froth reading corporate newsletters, check out The Black Board, AB’s monthly newsletter recapping what we’re doing, where we’re going and what’s next for our team and partners.
