Artist Entrepreneur Incubator

1. Business Development

In partnership with the South Carolina Small Business Development Center.

• I. Grow Your Arts-Based Business

  In-person | Saturday, July 26, 2025

  • The SCAC Spearman Center (1026 Sumter St., Columbia)
  • Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.
  • Program runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  #SCArtists: This free, hands-on workshop is designed to help you shape your vision and set meaningful goals for long-term artistic business success.

  In this session, participating artists will:

  • Reflect on essential questions and skills to grow their creative practice from passion to profit.
  • Learn how to identify and connect with their target audience.
  • Discover business development resources available through the South Carolina Small Business Development Center.
  • Engage in interactive activities with program staff to explore artist development grants offered by the SCAC.
  • Ed. note: Cliff Emery, then of S.C. SBDC, contributed to this event.

  Participating artists can bring their own lunch or purchase lunch at nearby restaurants.

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  General Parking

  Guest parking is not available in the SCAC lot. Event attendees must find alternative parking spaces on nearby streets, parking garages or parking lots. Meters are overseen by the city of Columbia, and garages/lots are privately owned. The SCAC does not have jurisdiction to waive fees or to contest a parking ticket nor do we have parking passes available.

  Additional parking locations:

  • Metered parking on Sumter and Senate streets.
  • Paid parking lot behind building (entrance is off Senate Street).

  Accessible Parking

  If you need accessible parking or have mobility issues, please notify Events Coordinator Daisha S. Calhoun (803.734.4474 | dcalhoun@arts.sc.gov) at least 48 hours prior so accommodations can be made.

• II. Frame Your Future: Choosing the Right Business Structure

  Designed to help artists understand and navigate business structures. Learn about the legal and financial implications of different structures, and how to choose the one that best fits your artistic business goals.

  In this session, artists will explore:

  • Why business structure matters for artists.
  • Key factors to consider when selecting a structure.
  • An overview of common business types, including:
    • Sole Proprietorship.
    • General Partnership.
    • Limited Liability Company (LLC).
    • S-Corporation.
    • C-Corporation.
  • Steps to formally establish a business in South Carolina.

• III. Fuel Your Vision: Funding Strategies

  To equip artists with a comprehensive understanding of different funding avenues, from traditional loans to innovative crowdsourcing, and guide them on how to prepare themselves to access these financial resources.

• IV. Amplify: Mastering Marketing & Digital Strategies

  Get ready to strengthen your brand and grow your creative presence.

  This panel conversation explores marketing strategies designed to leverage your work, build an engaged audience, and grow your arts-based business. Presenters include S.C. Small Business Development Centers’s Jim Johnson, Charleston-based designer, ceramicist and florist Sonny Sisan (Studio Sontosis and Floral Studies), and Columbia-based fashion designer Diko Pekdemir-Lewis (Anton & Maxine). This conversation is moderated by SCAC Deputy Director Ce Scott-Fitts. 

  • Diko Pekdemir-Lewis is an award-winning fashion designer and entrepreneur based in Columbia, South Carolina, and the founder of Anton & Maxine. Born and raised in Germany, she trained in classic tailoring and dressmaking before earning a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design. This year in October, she celebrates 10 years as a founder, having built and sustained her brand through strategic growth and in-house production. Diko leads an artisan-made studio, blending creative vision with business discipline to create a craftsmanship-driven brand focused on quality, longevity, and intentional growth.
  • Sonny Sisan is a multi-disciplinary artist in design, ceramics, and floristry. Both of his practices portray his love for slowing down to see the beauty in life. He has worked in ceramics since 2017, and in florals since 2020. His work today is the perfect balance of all the things that he loves that makes him and his work unique. Creating works both permanent and temporary for the sake of being intentional and beautiful. Sonny has two studios in Charleston. One for his event-based floristry work, and the other for his personal creative work in ceramics, though he will often combine both practices.

• V. Show Me the Money: Financial Management

  Virtual | Tuesday, April 21, 2026

  • via Zoom
  • 6-7:30 p.m.

  Goal

  To demystify financial management for artists, providing them with essential knowledge and practical tools to effectively track their finances, meet tax obligations, plan for the future, and understand how to properly compensate themselves for their work.

• About the SC SBDC + Primary Presenter

  The South Carolina Small Business Development Center is dedicated to fostering the growth and success of small businesses in South Carolina by providing a comprehensive suite of services. Entrepreneurs and existing business owners can access no-cost, confidential, one-on-one consulting with experienced advisors on a wide array of topics crucial for business success, including start up assistance, business and strategic plan development, funding assistance and financial management, human resources, and marketing strategies. The SC SBDC also offers educational workshops and seminars covering essential areas like starting a new venture, financing options, social media, and bookkeeping. They provide valuable connections to a broad range of resources, offering guidance on regulations, grants, and best practices, and facilitating referrals to relevant industry contacts and support organizations. Specialized services are also available in areas such as government contracting,  technology commercialization, agribusiness, cybersecurity, and assistance for veterans and minority-owned businesses, all aimed at helping South Carolina businesses thrive.

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  Presenter

  Jim Johnson is a seasoned senior business consultant and food systems specialist at the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers, affiliated with the University of South Carolina in Columbia. With a robust entrepreneurial background, he brings expertise from owning and operating businesses across healthcare, hospitality, and property management sectors. Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and holds an MBA from Claflin University. He is a graduate of the Clemson Palmetto LEAF leadership program and S.C. Economic Development Institute and holds certification as a global business professional. Jim’s consulting focuses on food systems, encompassing agribusiness, hospitality, and tourism, , alongside interests in international trade, environmental sustainability, energy, property management, and business acquisitions. He has held significant leadership positions and roles in various community development and chamber of commerce boards, been honored with awards such as businessperson of the year and the SBDC State Star, and is an adjunct business instructor at Claflin.

2. Marketing/Communications

Facilitated by Daniel Callahan

They say 80% of life is showing up. How one shows up determines the rest. Whether it’s an interview, Google search, social media post, TED talk or a conversation over tea, making sure the impression one leaves leads to interest, opportunity, and growth for both you and your audience is crucial. Likewise, given the exponential growth of automated, algorithmic and AI-generated content the uniqueness and humanity of authenticity has become ever more valuable. In this workshop, participants will learn some of the strategies and apply practical know-how to promote themselves and their services with excellence and authenticity in both in-person and online spaces. Participants will leave the workshop with a fuller understanding of themselves and some tried-and-true methods for presenting and pitching their art and their practice.

• Staying Authentic While Marketing Your Work

  Choose the date that best suits your schedule, and use the “Register for a session” button.

  Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025

  • via Zoom
  • 6-8 p.m. ET

  Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025

  • via Zoom
  • 6-8 p.m. ET

  Thursday, March 5, 2026

  • via Zoom
  • 6-8 p.m. ET

• About Daniel Callahan

  

  Daniel Callahan is a multimedia artist, filmmaker and designer. Merging painting, digital photography, film, music, writing and performance, Daniel works to craft immersive experiences incorporating story, ritual, and the human form to explore aspects of resilience and mysticism. He is best known for his painterly technique of MassQing – a ritual painting of the face used to reveal rather than conceal one’s inner essence  – and has been featured at the Museum of Fine Arts, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Queens Museum, as well as in publications such as Believer Magazine, The Bay State Banner, and Words Beats & Life: The Global Journal of Hip-Hop Culture. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Design and Emerson College, Daniel is a recipient of the NEFA Creative City Grant, the prestigious Brother Thomas Fellowship from the Boston Foundation and The Transformative Public Art Grant from the city of Boston.

3. Finance

• I. Taxes for Artists

  Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

  • via Zoom
  • 6-8 p.m.
  • Facilitated by Hannah Cole; artist, tax expert, and founder of Sunlight Tax

  What can I deduct? Do I bring receipts to my accountant? Is my creative work a business or a hobby? What is a Schedule C? How do I deduct my home studio?  Why do freelancers have to pay taxes quarterly, and how do I do that? 

  Just in time for tax season, join Hannah Cole to learn the ins and outs of taxes for solopreneurs. In this workshop, Hannah will discuss:

  • A high-level understanding of key tax concepts:
    • Self employment tax: the #1 reason freelancers underestimate their tax bill
    • The estimated quarterly tax system, and how to pay your quarterly taxes
    • The Schedule C: where and how to report your self-employment income
  • Creative-specific tax concerns, with a focus on creative empowerment:
    • The creative stereotype and how it plays into an audit situation, and how to counteract it
    • What to do/keep/save in case of audit
    • The Hobby/Loss Rule and surrounding case law, which is the basis of most creative audits
    • General guidelines for good record keeping
    • The importance of running one’s artistic enterprise as a business

  SC registrants will receive a digital copy of Hannah Cole’s new book, Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed (while supplies last!). Copies will be emailed to registrants following the program.

  

  Facilitator

  Hannah Cole is an artist, tax expert and the founder of Sunlight Tax. She specializes in educating entrepreneurs and creative professionals in taxes and financial empowerment. A long-time working artist with a high-level exhibition history, Hannah is a frequent speaker on stages and podcasts, a money columnist for the art blog Hyperalergic, and the host of a global top 3% podcast, the Sunlight podcast. Her company, Sunlight Tax, specializes in friendly, informative tax education for self-employed people with a big vision, and engaging, savvy tax education workshops for creative groups.

  Hannah Cole photo by Nicole McConville.

• II. Diversifying Income Strategies

  The SCAC is reimagining this workshop to increase its value to #SCArtists. Look for it in summer/fall 2026!

4. Business Best Practices

In partnership series with the U.S. Copyright Office and Able SC.

• I. Accessibility Basics

  Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025

  • via Zoom
  • 6-7:30 p.m.
  • Facilitated by staff from Able South Carolina

  Open Doors, Open Art: As an artist and business owner, accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a way to reach more people with your work.

  In this session, we’ll show you simple steps you can take today, like writing image descriptions, adding captions, planning accessible events, and making your online presence easier for everyone to enjoy. Walk away with practical tools to grow your audience and make sure no one is left out.

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  Facilitators

  Mary Reaves, Director of Community Access

  Mary brings almost 20 years of experience working in the accessibility space into her work to ensure that buildings, programs, organizations, community spaces and more are ready and willing to provide access to all members of their community—including those with disabilities. Mary received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from USC and later a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the USC School of Medicine in 2009 with a Certificate in Deaf Studies. Through the program, learned ASL. Later, Mary received a Certificate in Special Education Advocacy from the College of William & Mary Law School in 2021.

   

  

  Mary Alex Kopp, Vice President and Chief Public Relations Officer

  Mary Alex oversees communication strategies and manages coordination of the organization’s signature events. Mary Alex graduated from Erskine College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in visual art. Prior to working with Able SC, Mary Alex worked as Tourism and Events Manager at the City of Newberry’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism department.

   

  

  Dori Tempio, Senior Director of Community Education

  Dori believes that everyone can work together to unlock barriers and create positive change in the community. She actively works to build connections with a variety of community agencies as well as state and federal entities to provide resources and tools for individuals with disabilities to achieve their goals of independent living. Dori graduated from Johns Hopkins University with an MS in Counseling and, prior to joining the team with Able SC, worked as a teacher.

• II. Copyright Basics

  This program covered copyright law basics, the copyright registration process, and enforcement options (including the Copyright Claims Board). We will also explain the function of the U.S. Copyright Office and where to go for additional resources.

  The Copyright Office aims to broaden public awareness of what the copyright system encompasses and how to participate. A cornerstone of our current strategic plan is Copyright for All, and the office dedicates itself to making the copyright system as understandable and accessible to as many members of the public as possible.

  Facilitator

  Laura Kaiser, Attorney Advisor

  Laura Kaiser is an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Public Information and Education at the U.S. Copyright Office. She amplifies the office’s outreach efforts by presenting on copyright law for a variety of audiences. She also supports her colleagues with advice on legal accuracy and clarity when developing public facing materials. Laura first joined the Copyright Office in 2022 as a paralegal with the Copyright Claims Board, where she helped establish a new dispute resolution forum for copyright issues. Prior to joining the Copyright Office, she earned a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and a bachelor’s in comparative literature from New York University.