Kentucky artists, creative entrepreneurs and other small businesses that fall within the realm of the creative industry can attain comprehensive business skills and training provided through a unique partnership dedicated to boosting the footprint of Kentucky’s creative and artist businesses.
The Kentucky Arts Council, Berea Tourism, Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED), and the Kentucky Innovation Network-London, are offering the award-winning Kauffman FastTrac NewVenture and GrowthVenture training programs for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to start or grow their business.
The practical, hands-on business development program has been tailored to help creative entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow a successful creative enterprise.
The course has two tracks. The NewVenture track is for early-career entrepreneurs who have been in business two years or less. GrowthVenture is for existing entrepreneurs who have been operating their business for three or more years. The class is valued at $325, but investments from the sponsoring partners make scholarships available for participants to attend the complete series for $20.
“Knowledge is power, and for the artist or creative entrepreneur who is ready to take that step or the one who has already started their business, these trainings can be the key to moving their business to the next level,” said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. “We value the partnerships we have forged with Berea Tourism, Kentucky Highlands and MACED to make this happen and thank them for their significant investments that will offset the cost of the courses, making it more accessible to Kentucky’s creative entrepreneurs.”
The first class of the 10-session NewVenture track night will be Sept. 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at The Broadway Center, 204 Broadway St. in Berea. The first night of the GrowthVenture track, a seven-session course, will be Sept. 21, 5:30-8:30 p.m., also at The Broadway Center. Two information sessions will be offered prior to the start of the FastTrac series and will provide an overview of the full training.
Anyone interested in the series should attend one of the information sessions. Those sessions will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 10 and Aug. 17, at The Broadway Center. Complete course schedules will be available at those two information sessions. Pre-registration is required and can be found on the arts council’s website.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, fosters environments for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The arts council, along with the NEA, is celebrating 50 years of service in 2015, which the arts council is recognizing as the Year of the Arts in Kentucky.