A new
business learning opportunity has been launched to help regional
artists develop their entrepreneurial skills and thus turn their
work into viable, income-producing businesses.
Community
Resources for Artists-to-Entrepreneurs (C.RE.A.T.E.)
will
introduce artists to business fundamentals such as finances,
operations, marketing, and legal considerations. C.RE.A.T.E. is
a program of the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund and Growing
Neighborhood Businesses (GNB). GNB is part of Duluth at Work,
an initiative co-administered by the City of Duluth and LISC
(Local Initiatives Support Corporation).
Successful
artist-entrepreneurs will be featured as instructors and guest
speakers. Class content will be based on the Northeast
Entrepreneur Fund’s nationally recognized CoreFour® business
training curriculum.
C.RE.A.T.E.
participants will benefit by:
-
Translating their passion for their art or craft into a
sustainable business
-
Learning
how other artists have successfully started and built a
business
-
Network
with other artists/business owners
-
Understanding and applying fundamental business tools and
practices
-
Receiving ongoing assistance in business planning and
entrepreneurial development
The program
is designed for artists in northeast Minnesota and northwest
Wisconsin. Eligible participants include but are not limited
to: visual artists, sculptors, potters, filmmakers,
photographers, musicians and writers.
The 12-hour
C.RE.A.T.E. program will be offered in two sessions in spring
2009. Session 1 is offered on four consecutive Thursdays from
March 26 to April 16. Session 2 is offered on four consecutive
Tuesdays from May 12 to June 2. All classes will be held from
6-9 p.m. at the Duluth Art Institute, 2229 W. Second Street,
Duluth.
Cost for the
entire program is $150. Artists residing in one of the five
Duluth neighborhoods which are part of the Growing Neighborhood
Businesses initiative may participate for only $50. (The five
neighborhoods are East Hillside, Central Hillside, Lincoln Park,
Morgan Park and West Duluth. The reduced tuition is made
possible by scholarships from Duluth at Work.)
Following
completion of the two sessions, eight participants in C.RE.A.T.E.
will be selected to receive ongoing technical assistance and
business consulting for a period of up to three years, at no
cost. This group of eight will meet regularly for peer support,
professional coaching and other assistance. Eligible
participants must qualify as low-to-moderate income and reside
in one of the GNB neighborhoods.
For more
information, or to apply for C.RE.A.T.E., call 218-726-4791,
email info@entrepreneurfund.org, or visit
www.entrepreneurfund.org.
About the
Northeast Entrepreneur Fund
The Northeast
Entrepreneur Fund helps people start and grow successful small
businesses. It provides training, consulting and financing to
emerging and small businesses in northeast Minnesota and
northwest Wisconsin.
Since 1989, NEF
has helped start, stabilize or expand more than 1,000
businesses; helped create or retain more than 2,500 jobs;
provided $7.5 million in loans to nearly 500 businesses; and
served 9,000 people through its training, consulting and lending
programs. More than 85% of business owners who receive
assistance from NEF are still in business two years later.
The Greenstone
Group, a new 10-year initiative of NEF, seeks to foster a
culture of entrepreneurship and strengthen entrepreneurs through
group-based learning, peer support and access to a variety of
business services.
To learn more,
visit
www.entrepreneurfund.org.