Your chance to be part of the 2016 AEI Class of business savvy artists and creative entrepreneurs! Registration is open for the 2016 sessions of Summit Artspace's popular Artists as an Entrepreneur Institute, co-presented by the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC).

2016 Dates are:
April 23 & 24, 9 am to 5 pm
April 30 & May 1, 9 am to 5 pm

The fee is $100 for 32 hours of instruction from experienced professionals. Those who take the 4-day course can participate in select additional professional development workshops without additional charge. Click here to register and pay: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event…

The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (AEI) is an award-winning business training program for visual, performing, literary, media and design artists. The results-oriented program is led by outstanding faculty of business leaders, entrepreneurs and working artists who will teach you the fundamentals of how to start, grow and maintain your healthy business. Email aei@akronareaarts.org if you would like to receive information about upcoming AEI programs at Summit Artspace.

AEI is underwritten by the Burton D. Morgan Foundation through Summit Artspace. 

The institute provides 32 hours of instruction and interaction with area art entrepreneurs and business experts. It will also include later work sessions for participants to refine a business plan without additional cost. The fee is $100 and payable in full online, by mail or in person by April 22.

Returning faculty include Chris Horne, editor and publisher of The Devil Strip, an online and print publication; attorney Ryan Vaca, who teacher at The University of Akron Law School; and Karen Starr, interior designer and co-owner of Hazel Tree Interiors in Akron.

This is the third year for the institute in Akron, said Summit Artspace Executive Director Joanne Green.

“The course has been very popular with local artists who want to build their brands in smart, efficient ways. They join the class because they are searching for this type of how-to information from accounting to writing a business plan to marketing. It has proved to be a career turning point for some,” said Green.

The course daily schedule features 12 learning modules, each with an accompanying work session where participants work in groups with the instructor. Module topics include priority setting, pricing, intellectual property protection, marketing research and strategy, and sales.

AEI MODULES

Saturday, April 23

Understanding your Current State
Exploring Priorities
Writing a Business/Action Plan

Sunday, April 24

Defining the Product or Service
Civic Engagement
Pricing- Overview and Practice
Protecting Your Rights

Saturday, April 30

Introduction to Building the Marketing Plan
Insurance
Understanding Your Audience and Market Research
Building a Communication Strategy

Sunday, May 1

Making the Sale
Raising Capital
Operational Accounting and Finance
Revisiting the Action Plan

“As we’ve reviewed past classes, it was important to us to keep adding value to the program. Once the course ends, participants will be able to continue meeting at Summit Artspace to work with experts and complete their business plans. Sometimes you need that extra time to let strategies percolate and then be able to tweak them when reality sets it,” Green added.

“It’s been an exciting process to watch as artists come into their own as entrepreneurs. Part of our mission as a community art center is to find ways to support artists and creative business people so they flourish and positively impact the Greater Akron area through the beauty and individuality of the artistry, the people that come to our area to view the art and the commerce that is created,” Green explained.

Akron metal sculptor Michael Marras, an AEI alumnus, said “For several reasons, it is really hard to balance the artist with the business person. There are a lot of things in the program that are helpful to artists starting off and people in the middle of their careers.”

The deadline to register is April 22. For information, go to www.summitartspace.org/aei, email mila@akronareaarts.org or call her at 330-376-8480.

Summit Artspace is a community art center bringing together in one location some of the best local artists, art education and arts organizations of the Greater Akron area. It is a project of the Akron Area Arts Alliance.
Underwritten by The Burton D. Morgan Foundation.