The University of Wyoming’s Neltje Center for Excellence in Creativity and the Arts,
Sheridan College and Northwest College have been awarded $1.1 million through the
Wyoming Innovation Partnership to strengthen the state’s creative economy.
The initiative is aimed at supporting artists and creatives in building sustainable
art practices, starting arts-related nonprofits or building arts-related businesses.
The initiative also is supported by the Wyoming Arts Council, UW’s IMPACT 307 and
UW’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
A daylong workshop for those interested in applying for the program is scheduled from
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at UW’s Visual Arts Building. Additional workshops
are in planning for the spring in Sheridan, Powell, Riverton and Rock Springs. Some
workshops will allow virtual participation.
Wyoming-based artists and creatives in any field — from visual arts, to music, to
theater and dance, writing or interdisciplinary work — are invited to apply to participate
in the program, which consists of:
— A skills- and community-building workshop designed to guide participants through
the many approaches to reaching professional goals and creating a foundation for unlimited
artistic growth.
— Assistance through mentorship and coaching from experts in diverse creative fields
and in startup business practices.
— Access to resources and support that will help artists sustain a creative life
well beyond this program.
— The opportunity to compete in a competition for an arts-focused business startup,
nonprofit initiative or arts-related enterprise.
This innovative arts startup accelerator helps creative individuals from all fields
gain the skills needed to bring their practice to a new level or develop a viable
business model rooted in creativity. The program enables artists and creatives to
master creative economy basics, solidify plans and even refine their pitches for a
chance to win up to $25,000 in startup funding.
The daylong workshops will be led by Sharon Louden, an internationally recognized
artist, author, advocate for artists, community-builder and leading voice in professional
development for artists from all over the world.
Each workshop will include a period of instruction and discussion; a panel of creatives
who will unpack how they built sustainable art practices, nonprofits or businesses;
and an introduction to the mentor/coaching program.
Following the workshops, participants will have access to a customized mentor/coaching
team of experts from across Wyoming and across the country, assembled to assist each
participant in preparing to launch a new creative enterprise. Participants who choose
to also will be invited to develop proposals that will make them eligible to join
the “Creative Economy Start-up Challenge.”
For more information, go here.