The Indiana Arts Commission announced Tuesday, Jan. 20 that 33 Indiana artists have received Work In Progress: Micro-Support Grant awards and 12 creative small businesses have completed The Creative Leap business strategy series.
The Creative Leap, a workshop series focused on business strategy for established creative entrepreneurs in Indiana led by Dr. Elaine Grogan Luttrull of Minerva Financial Arts, recently concluded. Twelve creative small business owners attended a series of business coaching workshops and group check-ins over the last four months. The creative entrepreneurs who completed the full series received a $1,000 honorarium to put toward purchasing business resources that were identified during the series to accompany their newly revised business strategy.
Two local participants of the program, and their small businesses, are:
- Clare Longendyke, Hamilton County, Pianist
- Devonna Miltenberger, Hamilton County, Gifts That Give Studio
Work In Progress: Exchange Labs were in-person convenings for artists of all disciplines to gather to discuss topics of interest pertaining to creatives such as the status of current projects, their creative practices and careers, and how they engage the various phases of the creative process. Artists who participated in at least one Exchange Lab meeting were eligible to apply to the Work In Progress: Exchange Labs Micro-Support Grant. The Micro-Support Grant Program was a competitive grant program providing funding of between $250 and $1,000 to support a current project connected to Exchange Lab discussions, topics, or an artist’s individual practice. Applications were evaluated based on artistic vision and project alignment, project management and planning, and community benefit and career development.
In the fall of 2023, the Indiana Arts Commission launched a statewide Artist Needs Assessment to inform new and refined services and programming for artists and creative small businesses in Indiana. The Creative Leap and Work In Progress programs were designed to meet needs identified by the assessment process, including a need for marketing and financial education, and a need for networking and connection among creative small businesses.
Learn more about The Creative Leap and Work In Progress programs.