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.

AEI participants in 2023/2024 will receive step-by-step coaching on how to create a business plan for your artistic endeavors.

These virtual workshops will be facilitated by professionals from Brickbeat Agency, which specializes in perfecting all things entertainment through casting, coaching, and consulting. 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 instructors Tangie Beaty and Arischa Conner.

Participants are required to attend each of the six scheduled sessions of the course. By the end, you can expect to have a comprehensive understanding of how to create a long-form business plan that is tailored to your unique artistic goals and aspirations.

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 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
PRE-APPLICATION COACHING SESSION

One Columbia logoThe 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.

2023/2024 Details

  • This year’s course is designed to teach creatives how to create a business plan for their artistic endeavors.

    The course will be offered twice. The six-week sessions will meet weekly via Zoom for group sessions in the fall and winter. There will be individual coaching sessions for each participant as well.

    Each week, your instructors will coach you through a different aspect of business planning, such as:

    • Introduction to Business Planning for Creatives
    • Defining Your Artistic Vision and Goals
    • Market Analysis and Customer Segmentation
    • Financial Planning and Forecasting

    By the end of the course, you can expect to have a comprehensive understanding of how to create a long-form business plan that is tailored to your unique artistic goals and aspirations.

    COURSE PRE-REQUISITES

    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.

  • Timeline
    • Applications open: Tuesday, Nov. 28
    • Application deadline: Tuesday, Jan. 9
    • Successful applicants notified: Tuesday, Jan. 23

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

    • Feb. 6
    • Feb. 13
    • Feb. 20
    • Feb. 27
    • March 5
    • March 12

    One-on-one coaching will take place March 18-29.

    Each participant will have a one-hour coaching session with course instructors to be scheduled during this time period!

    Registration will begin in winter 2024.

Register now for Session 2

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).