Artist Entrepreneur Incubator

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.

• Financial Management for Artists

  *Registration is closed for this course.*

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

  Day 1:

  • 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.

  Day 2:

  • 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 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.

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  Session 2

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

  • Day 1: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
  • Day 2: Thursday, April 24, 2025

• Creating Comprehensive Marketing Plans

  *Registration is closed for this course.*

  These workshops will be facilitated by Debi Schadel of Flock and Rally, a full-service, women-owned integrated communications and marketing company that partners with clients to build beautiful brands and tell engaging stories.

  Session 2

  Classes held virtually (Zoom) on the following dates from 10 a.m. to noon.

  • Jan. 20 – Audience, Goals, and Objectives
  • Jan. 27 – Your Foundational Tools
  • Feb. 3 – Outreach, Timeline, and Budget
  • Feb. 10 – Feedback Session/Marketing Plan Presentations

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  Instructor

  Co-founding partner at Flock and Rally: Integrated Communications and Marketing, Debi Schadel is a marketing professional based in Columbia who has a lengthy and successful track record in launching new initiatives, placemaking and community-building.

  Founded in 2010, Flock and Rally is a full-service, women-owned creative agency that provides integrated communications and marketing services to clients in sectors such as higher education, nonprofit, travel and tourism, technology, health care, economic development and more.

  Schadel has been honored as one of Columbia Business Monthly magazine’s “50 Most Influential,” Free Times’ “Power 50” and Columbia Regional Business Report’s “Women to Watch.” The Flock and Rally team has garnered more than 85 awards, including Gold and Silver ADDYs from the American Advertising Federation of the Midlands, Best in Show awards from the International Association of Business Communicators’ S.C. chapter and the S.C. Public Relations Society of America, and the Shining Light Award from the Southeast Tourism Society.

  Schadel co-founded TedXColumbiaSC, One Million Cups Columbia, Crafty Feast, the Columbia chapter of the American Marketing Association, Columbia’s first women’s roller derby league and more. She is a board member at the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce.

  Along with an undergraduate degree in Sociology from SUNY Fredonia, she holds a Master of Real Estate Development from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Geography from the University of South Carolina.

• Submitting Winning Grant Proposals

  *Registration is closed for this course.*

  Monifa Lemons Jackson will lead a comprehensive, two-day workshop to empower artists who are either new to grant applications or have previously applied without success.  This initiative will provide them with the essential tools and insights needed to craft compelling grant proposals. The sessions will conclude with interactive Grant Q&A sessions where participants can ask questions and clarify critical aspects of the grant application process.

  Session 2 schedule

  Classes held virtually (Zoom) on the following dates from 6-8 p.m.

  • Jan. 22, 2025
    1. Understanding Grant Basics and Ethical Considerations
    2. Building Connections and Strategic Networking
    3. Avoiding Desperation-Driven Applications
  • Jan. 23, 2025
    1. Mastering the Grant Submission Process
    2. Learning about Successful Grant Applications
    3. Preparing for Long-Term Career Building and Sustainability
    4. Interactive Q&A Session

  The workshops will cover a range of topics, including understanding the nuances of grant money, reimbursements, and the ethical use of funds. Participants will learn the importance of building connections, avoiding desperation-driven applications, and thoroughly understanding the submittal process, including reading rubrics and answering the specific questions grants ask. Additionally, the workshop will delve into long-term career building and sustainability, helping artists prepare to apply for grants today and in the future.

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  Instructor

  

  Monifa Lemons is an accomplished art therapist with seven years of experience providing creative and therapeutic support to individuals. Her work in art therapy has been complemented by an equal tenure in youth programming, where she has excelled in designing and implementing programs that foster artistic expression and personal growth among young people. As the co-founder and director of a non-profit literary organization, Monifa has spent six years leading initiatives that promote literature and the arts. Her leadership extends to the realm of spoken word, where she boasts over 27 years of experience as an artist and host, bringing poetry and performance art to diverse audiences.

  Monifa’s literary prowess is evidenced by her extensive publications, which include notable works such as “In the Meantime” and “Letter from my Grandmother” featured in African Voices, and “Moon Cycle” published in The African American Review. Her chapbook, “Between the Cracks of Concrete Thighs,” showcases her command of language and her ability to evoke powerful imagery and emotions. Monifa’s influence in the literary community is further highlighted by her numerous interviews and features in publications like Legendary Women and Fig Magazine, where her insights into race, genre, and the power of poetry have been widely recognized.

  In addition to her writing and art therapy work, Monifa has made significant contributions to program development and facilitation. She has been involved with various youth programs, including USC Trio Programs Upward Bound and the Writer’s Well Youth Fellowship. Monifa’s dedication to fostering artistic talent is also evident through her leadership in organizing events such as the TWH Poetry Retreat and the TWH Poetry Festival. Her talents have been acknowledged through several grants and fellowships, including the Jasper magazine Artist of the Year for Poetry and the We Shall Overcome grant. As a sought-after speaker, moderator, and judge, Monifa continues to inspire and uplift communities through her art, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to the transformative power of creativity.