Level-up your arts business

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

AEI participants in 2024/2025 will receive step-by-step coaching on:

  • How to submit winning grant proposals,
  • Create comprehensive marketing plans.
  • Financial management.

The sessions take place via Zoom throughout the fall and winter. Participants are required to attend each of the scheduled sessions for which they’re registered. By the end, each participant will have tools for a business-savvy skillset.

2024/2025 Topics

Applying

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 present 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
Course prerequisites

All accepted AEI participants will be required to complete a viewing of the one-hour course which is available as a recording. (Access will be provided to all accepted applicants who did not participate in the initial, 2021/2022 AEI 101 workshop, Better Business for Creatives.) This pre-requisite will allow for a good foundation prior to the start of this year’s session.

Additionally, the facilitators will provide a brief pre-assessment which is required for all accepted participants to complete before the start of the session.

  • Uvette Pope-Rogers, CPA, CGMA, owner & principal of UR Consulting Services, will welcome artists for two-day sessions on relevant financial management topics.

    • Understanding basic financial terms—allowing artists to communicate about financial needs, goals, and plans.
    • Developing a budget—allowing artists to plan for expected income and expenses to ensure that all financial needs are met.
    • Tracking expenses and paying bills—ensuring artists understand how to pay and track expenses.
    • Tracking income and invoicing for services—ensuring artists understand the importance of established pricing and invoicing for artworks, crafts, and art-based services as well as the process for collecting payments and recording the income.
    • Determining price points—ensuring artists understand the importance of established pricing and invoicing for artworks, crafts, and art-based services, and that the pricing aligns with the cost of creating artworks, crafts, and art-based services and the perceived value.
    • Grants financial reporting—ensuring that artists understand how to complete the grant reports.
    • When to seek professional financial assistance—ensuring that artists are seeking the necessary help in any financial aspect when needed.
    Session 1

    Classes held virtually (Zoom) on the following dates from 6-7:30 p.m.

    • Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025
    • Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025
    • Registration will begin no more than six (6) weeks prior to the first session.
    Session 2

    Classes held virtually (Zoom) on the following dates from 6-7:30 p.m.

    • Tuesday, April 22, 2025
    • Thursday, April 24, 2025
    • Registration will begin no more than six (6) weeks prior to the first session.

Headshot of Tanisha BrownI’m here to help!

If you are seeking more program information, please contact Artist Development Director Tanisha N. Brown (803.734.8043 | tbrown@arts.sc.gov).