IAC Selects Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Teams
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Arts Commission has announced the six teams that have been selected to participate in its On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator. The IAC says the teams will work to improve the economic resilience of creative small businesses in their communities.
The commission says the program is designed to educate artists in ten key areas of entrepreneurship and finance and to provide ongoing mentorship and support to participants.
The teams include:
- Floyd County led by the Carnegie Center for Arts and History. Team members include Al Gorman, Don Lopp, Julie Leidner, Melissa Merida, Brigid Morrissey, and Laura Wilkins.
- Greater Lafayette led by the Tippecanoe Arts Federation. Team members include Lauren Curry, Tetia Lee, Elaine Grogan Luttrull, Chris Mack, and Anna Tragesser.
- Marion led by the Marion Design Co. Team members include Tashema Davis, Eric Marshall, Wendy Puffer, and Henrik Soderstrom.
- Northeast Indiana led by Pathfinder Services and the Huntington Arts and Entrepreneurial Center. Team members include Katrina Mitten and Katy Strass.
- Northwest Indiana led by South Shore Arts. Team members include Kelly Anoe, Micah Bornstein, Donna Catalano, Dale Cooper, Lorri Feldt, Sam Love, Gretchen Sipp, and Jason Williams.
- South Central Indiana led by Indiana University’s Center for Community and Rural Engagement. Team members include Gnat Bowden, Andrew Gerber, Andreas Ioannides, Amy Oelsner, Gerard Pannekoek, Kara Schmidt, and Bill Spencer-Pierce.
The IAC says teams were chosen based their commitment to training and planning. In addition, priority was given to teams with strong connections with BIPOC communities, rural communities, or underrepresented groups or regions.
According to the commission, a recent study found program alumni have been more resilient as entrepreneurs compared to artists across the nation. They have “retained more of their savings in the midst of the pandemic and are actively managing and tracking expenses, identifying new allies and partners, and adjusting their business plans.”
You can connect to more information about the program by clicking here.