Joyce Yamamoto has been engaged to serve as the instructor for the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund’s popular Community Resources for Artists-to-Entrepreneurs (C.RE.A.T.E.) program.  The business training program helps regional artists develop their entrepreneurial skills and thus turn their work into viable, income-producing businesses.

 

Yamamoto, a renowned artist-turned-entrepreneur herself, is currently leading the March-April session of C.RE.A.T.E., training a group of about 20 artists in business fundamentals such as finances, operations, marketing and legal considerations.  The May-June session begins May 12.

 

Yamamoto lives and works in her studio in the North Shore community of Little Marais.  She serves on the board of directors of the Grand Marais Arts Colony.  Her work in mixed media includes painting, collage, pottery and photography, and has been shown at numerous galleries throughout Minnesota.  She previously served as vice president of program development at WomenVenture in St. Paul, and as director of racial justice and public programs at the YWCA of Minneapolis. 

 

C.RE.A.T.E. 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.  Classes are held at the Duluth Art Institute.

 

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).

 

For more information on class dates, times and fees, call 1-800-422-0374, 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.

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