Artist Entrepreneur Incubator
Level-up your arts business
The Artist Entrepreneur Incubator is a free professional development program for #SCArtists to sustain or level-up their freelance business.
Emphasizing methods to develop one’s artwork, audience, and goals, this program is a valuable resource to artists at all stages of their career.
2026/2027 Series
Keep scrolling to browse the topics within each core area. Find out when the courses will meet, and use the button to register. Most of these programs will meet as single, virtual sessions, but two in-person programs are also planned and some have up to two meeting dates. Recordings of most sessions will be available after they take place.
Participant requirements
This program is designed for South Carolina artists who wish to grow their arts-based businesses. You must be:
- At least 18 years of age.
- A current resident of South Carolina.
- Not enrolled in a degree-granting program.
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In-person | Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
- Greenville Center for Creative Arts
- Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.
- Program runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This workshop is full. However, you may register and join the waitlist. You will be notified in the event of cancellations.
Join other #SCArtists at Greenville Center for Creative Arts—one of SCAC’s newest Arts Hub Region offices—for the annual Artist Entrepreneur Incubator kickoff event!
This free full-day event will focus on educating and empowering artists with resources, hands-on activities, and peer coaching. We’ll dive into our SCAC programs, demystify the grant writing process through hands-on activities, and prompt artists to set meaningful goals to scale a business and brand.
Plus, we’ll have a photographer on-site providing free professional headshots, so dress to feel your best!
For this annual gathering, artists will:
- Participate in hands-on activities focused on grant writing and budgeting.
- Learn about diversified income strategies from artists and plan for growth.
- Network with other artists and SCAC staff.
- View GCCA’s Annual Showcase: Work from GCCA Members and the 2026 Brandon Fellowship Exhibition.
- Receive a new headshot by RaAmen Stallings (Amen Ra Photography).
Participants should plan to bring their own lunch or purchase lunch at nearby restaurants.
About the Speakers
Anastasia Christofakis is a versatile clarinetist and dedicated educator known for bridging classical traditions with modern interpretations. Currently serving as associate professor of clarinet at Furman University, she has performed extensively across the U.S. and internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. She is the clarinetist and vice president of education for the award-winning Pierrot ensemble, What Is Noise, and a founding member of the clarinet-piano duo Meraki, which received a Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Award. A passionate advocate for new music, she has collaborated with numerous composers to premiere works that expand the instrument’s possibilities. Thanks to a generous grant from the Presser Foundation, she traveled to Armenia to study their folk music and the duduk, a project whose findings have been presented at universities and the International Clarinet Association’s annual conference. Dr. Christofakis earned degrees from Florida State University, the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and James Madison University.
Abigail Cruz Colton is a ceramic artist based in Travelers Rest and the founder of Pårådisu Pottery. Following a career in real estate, Colton returned to ceramics in 2022, quickly gaining recognition for her work. Her Mahålang series led to her selection for The Royal Collection via Guam’s Sihek Recovery Project, and her work has been featured at Wild Hare Gallery, Topsoil Restaurant, and the Artist Collective of Spartanburg. She was selected as an SCAC Emerging Artist grantee in 2026 and will be the artist-in-residence for The Reserve at Lake Keowee in 2027. Beyond the studio, Colton is a dedicated educator and advocate for artistic therapy. She taught at Furman University’s OLLI program in 2025 and currently leads advanced courses at Greenville’s Senior Action and the Greer Center for Creative Arts, specialized workshops for Prisma Health’s Cancer Support Community, Upstate Warrior Solution, and Shriners Children’s Hospital. By blending creativity with community-building, Colton uses Pårådisu Pottery to foster healing and connection throughout the Upstate.
General Parking
Attendees should park in either GCCA reserved or general open spaces in the gated lot accessible via Abney Street between Draper and Bryant streets.
If no spaces are available in this lot, they should park in the overflow area located at 20 Draper St. (the one-story white concrete building at the intersection of Abney and Draper streets). A ramp can be found at the front entrance, for those who need an alternative to stairs.
Accessibility & Accessible Parking
GCCA provides on-site parking at 101 Abney St., including two accessible parking spaces and ten designated front-row spaces. The main entrance features a ramp and a push-button door for easy access.
The second floor is accessible via an elevator located in the Main Gallery. Accessible restrooms are available on the first floor in the rear right corner behind the Main Gallery and on the second floor behind the water fountains and Studio 10.
All spaces offer flexible seating arrangements to accommodate guests using wheelchairs and their companions. If you have any questions or specific accessibility needs, please contact us in advance of your visit:
Arts Learning & Accessibility Director Amanda Noyes (803.734.8675 | anoyes@arts.sc.gov)
Register for a session
Past Incubator Workshops
I’m here to help!
If you are seeking more program information, please contact Artist Development Manager McKenzie Drake (803.734.4464 | mdrake@arts.sc.gov).