Portrait of photographer Mathushaa Sagthidas

Getty Images announce inaugural Inclusion Grant recipients, in partnership with Creative Access

Posted on February 9, 2022

iStock Awards $20,000 to Four Emerging Commercial Photographers, Videographers and Illustrators Globally as Part of Inaugural Inclusion Grant

In partnership with four organizations working directly with underrepresented communities in the U.S., UK, LATAM and Australia, iStock awards much-needed financial support to four creators.

iStock, a leader in affordable visual communications for the creative, entrepreneurial, student and SMB communities, today announces the four creative commercial artists chosen to receive its inaugural Inclusion Grant, designed to support them as they endeavor to draw attention to underrepresented communities through their work. The grant was open to commercial photographers, videographers and illustrators based in the U.S., UK, LATAM and Australia and is being awarded in partnership with U.S.-based organization Black Women Photographers, UK-based organization Creative Access, Fotografas Latam and Australia Council for the Arts.

“This grant demonstrates iStock’s continued commitment to support diverse creators around the world, both financial and in terms of mentorship, as they seek to tell stories around their communities and ultimately take their commercial careers to the next level,” said Claudia Marks, Senior Art Director, iStock. “To that end, we’re thrilled to say that our four recipients from the U.S., UK, Columbia and Australia are each incredible storytellers in their own right, creating visuals which the world needs to see—and that’s something we’re eager to make happen alongside our partners.”

The four recipients include:

  • U.S.: Malaika Muindi, Film-maker. Malaika creates short videos, coupled with portraits to connect her audience to varied people, communities, and experiences that may be foreign or familiar.
  • UK: Mathushaa Sagthidas, Photographer. Mathushaa’s work often examines her identity – Tamil Eelam ethnicity and British nationality, which is reflected through traditions, history and fashion photography.
  • LATAM: Natalia Ortiz Mantilla, Photographer. Natalia’s work framed in the understanding of the relationship between communities and the inhabited ecosystem, being each territory a source of memory and identity, connected to topics such as resilience, resistance, social justice and gender approach.
  • Australia: Marley Morgan, Photographer. Marley, a member of the Wiradjuri, Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay nations, highlights the beauty of First Nations Aboriginal families with a heavy focus on Aboriginal women, motherhood and culture.


“Getting this funding means so much to me for so many reasons – one of which being that I’m able to bring life to a project revolving around South Asian stories and perspectives, a concept that I’ve been wanting to create since before the start of the pandemic. This project will tell various South Asian stories about our beautiful cultural differences and share personal stories to teach those outside of the community that might not know much about the various cultures, creative and celebrations within this Asian continent. I’m super grateful to have this support to be able to progress my project and practice,” said Mathushaa Sagthidas, photographer, UK.

“The pandemic and decline in creative industry funding have disproportionately impacted people in the creative sector from under-represented communities, which is why this Getty/iStock grant is such an important programme. We are so pleased to partner with Getty/iStock to award the inaugural grant to Mathushaa to support her important and inspiring work and that of the wider creative community,” says Josie Dobrin, founder and CEO, Creative Access.

Each of the four grants was judged independently by the following judges, in collaboration with the iStock art team:

  • U.S.: Polly Irungu, Founder of Black Women Photographers, and Barbara DuMetz, pioneer in commercial photography
  • UK: Josie Dobrin, CEO & Co-Founder of Creative Access, and Vanessa Martins, Freelance photographer
  • LATAM: Lorena Velasco and Fernanda Pitaño, Co-Founders, Fotografas Latam, and Cristina Otero, commercial and fine art photographer
  • Australia: Franchesca Cubillo, Executive Director of First Nations Arts & Culture, and Patricia Adjei, Head of First Nations Arts & Culture Sector Development, both with Australia Council


In addition to the $5,000 prize, each recipient has been given the opportunity to license their winning work on the iStock website at a 100 percent royalty rate. The iStock Inclusion Grant is part of Getty Images’ wider grants program which has awarded US$1.8 million to photographers and filmmakers worldwide since its inception. Please visit Getty Images Grants to learn more.