Artist Entrepreneur Incubator

It’s time to level-up your arts business.

The Artist Entrepreneur Incubator is a six-week virtual program that gives artists living and working in South Carolina practical skills to level-up their freelance businesses.

Participants will learn skills for starting, running, and keeping their arts practice business-savvy, capitalizing on opportunity, and continuing to invest in their own creativity.

AEI participants in 2022/2023 will receive step-by-step coaching on:

• shaping their big, creative ideas into marketable products;
• forming a viable business model;
• and using that model to achieve sustainable success.

These virtual marketing workshops will be facilitated by Newberry College Assistant Professor Paul D. Smith Jr., who specializes in guiding the growth of small and existing businesses.

In addition to honing a business-savvy skillset, participants who fully complete the course and the course survey will receive a $200 honorarium and a one-hour consultation with Professor Smith. Participants are required to attend each of the six scheduled sessions.

Interested?

The ideal candidate is a mid-career artist with an independent body of work. They have received recognition through publication or public presentation of their work and are prepared to market their work to a broader audience.

Participant requirements:

• At least 18 years of age
• Current resident of South Carolina
• Not enrolled in a degree-granting program

The AEI is a collaboration between the SCAC and One Columbia for Arts & Culture. It is open to artists of all disciplines who live and work throughout South Carolina… not just Columbia!

One Columbia for Arts and Culture is a non-profit organization working to promote creative collaborations among Columbia residents, the cultural community, and city government to further build a vibrant community. Learn more on www.onecolumbiasc.com.

2022/2023 Details

• Course descriptions

  The courses described here will occur in each session:

  Stand Out from the Crowd
  Create an effective marketing research strategy for maximum exposure. This session will help you to analyze the marketplace and your competition, identify your target market, complete a SWAT analysis and help develop a plan to reach new customers.

  The Entrepreneurial Artist
  Lessons from highly successful creatives explores
  • Building partnerships with peers, patrons, and sponsors
  • Embracing diversity
  • Expanding your focus
  • Allowing your work to mature

  Bank on your Success
  Learn how to establish and sustain a solid relationship with financial institutions. Create a strategy to move your business forward in both the short and long term and develop a better understanding of the financial resources available to creative entrepreneurs.

  The Art of Cash Flow
  The lifeblood of any successful business is a positive cash flow. Identify opportunities and retool your business strategies by tracking where your money is coming from and how money is being spent.

  Business Model Canvas
  Learn how to use the Business Model Canvas, a strategic management tool to define and communicate your business idea quickly and easily.

  Skills that Pay the Bills
  Feel more confident with negotiating! This session focuses on improving your communication, initiative, and enthusiasm for negotiating with potential clients and customers in setting commission fees, framing contracts, and determining price points for the items you create.

• Meet the instructor

  Paul D. Smith Jr.

  • CEO, BEST Carolina LLC
  • Assistant professor of business administration, Newberry College

  Paul has been teaching at the collegiate level since 2004 in all aspects of the business curriculum. Professionally, he is the CEO of BEST Carolina LLC. He earned a bachelor of science with a double major in finance and risk management from the University of South Carolina and a master of business administration from Webster University.

  Further, Paul is a certified NxLeveL® facilitator (Salt Lake City, Utah) specializing in business start-ups, existing businesses who wish to grow, microenterprises, and specialty training in agriculture-based ventures, going green, signage and money management. Additionally, he is a FastTrac New Venture Trainer with the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri.

• Session 1: Thursdays, Oct. 6–Nov. 10, 2022

  Timeline

  • Applications open Monday, Aug. 8
  • Applications close Friday, Sept. 16
  • Cohorts notified Monday, Sept. 26
  • Classes begin Thursday, Oct. 6

  Classes

  Held virtually on the following dates:

  • Stand Out from the Crowd • Oct. 6
  • The Entrepreneurial Artist • Oct. 13
  • Bank on your Success • Oct. 20
  • The Art of Cash Flow • Oct. 27
  • Business Model Canvas • Nov. 3
  • Skills that Pay the Bills • Nov. 10

• Session 2: Tuesdays, Feb. 7–March 14, 2023

  Timeline

  • Applications open Monday, Dec. 12!
  • Applications close Sunday, Jan. 22 at 11:45 p.m. ET. Use the link below.
  • Cohorts notified Friday, Jan. 27
  • Classes begin Tuesday, Feb. 7

  Classes

  Held virtually on the following dates:

  • Stand Out from the Crowd • Feb. 7
  • The Entrepreneurial Artist • Feb. 14
  • Bank on your Success • Feb. 21
  • The Art of Cash Flow • Feb. 28
  • Business Model Canvas • March 6
  • Skills that Pay the Bills • March 13

• Session 3: Thursdays, May 4–June 8, 2023

  Timeline

  • Applications open Monday, March 6
  • Applications close Monday, April 17
  • Cohorts notified Monday, April 24
  • Classes begin Thursday,  May 4

  Classes

  Held virtually on the following dates:

  • Stand Out from the Crowd • May 4
  • The Entrepreneurial Artist • May 11
  • Bank on your Success • May 18
  • The Art of Cash Flow • May 25
  • Business Model Canvas • June 1
  • Skills that Pay the Bills • June 8

I’m here to help!

If you are seeking more program information, please contact Deputy Director Ce Scott-Fitts (cscottfitts@arts.sc.gov | 803.734.8203).