Filmmaker, Kobina deGraft Johnson and Bronx Net in the United States of America have announced that they received an Artist Employment Program (AEP) grant from Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY).

Designed to support employment opportunities for artists, the program is funding 98 collaborations involving a dynamic group of artists employed by community-based organizations, municipalities and tribal governments across New York state.

CRNY has awarded a total of $49.9m in funding to support artists’ salaries and benefits, with an additional $11.7m in funding provided to the organizations holding employment.

“If we are truly to rebuild our amazing state, we must celebrate artists’ contributions not only to the economy but to what makes us human,” says Creatives Rebuild New York Executive Director Sarah Calderon.

“The incredible work being funded CRNY’s Artist Employment Program underscores the importance of direct support for both individual artists and the organizations that hold their employment.”

Kobina deGraft Johnson will work with Bronx Net to develop a limited digital series, with an allocated budget to support the collaboration, artists salaries and benefits.

Kobina wishes to use this opportunity to build on his plans for Ghanaian Television; to which he’s creating the ‘King of T3ma’ series.

It tells the story of two young men with a sick mother in the hospital and a gambling debt looming over their heads, being left with no option than to work for the most notorious crime boss in ‘T3ma.’

Expressing his excitement, Kobina said, “As an artist, you pray for days like this, having resources to be able to create and explore, but most importantly, revitalize the content on television, especially Ghana’s. It will be a great opportunity to learn about the film and television industry as well.”