Advancing Creatives Intensive (ACI) 2023: Denver Metro Application

Organized by the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA), the Advancing Creatives Intensive (ACI) is designed to be a launch pad for creative professionals and entrepreneurs who want to articulate and take practical steps to achieve their business goals. The cohort-based approach incorporates peer learning and accountability.

The ACI 2023: Denver Metro program is a six-session program from April – June 2023, hosted at Arapahoe Community College’s Art & Design Center in Littleton, CO.

ACI 2023: Denver Metro is ideal for artists of all disciplines who are emerging in their creative career and arts business. Topics include goal setting and business planning, branding and marketing, legal issues and financial management. The program incorporates various speakers, practical exercises, toolkits and networking activities.

By completing the Intensive, participants will be eligible to apply for a limited number of Career Advancement Grants, supported by Colorado Creative Industries, up to $500 to further their ongoing arts business.

This program is possible thanks to support from Colorado Creative Industries, Kenneth King Foundation, Telluray Foundation, Meow Wolf Denver, Ent Credit Union and Arapahoe Community College.

APPLICANTS SHOULD BE:
  • Residents of Colorado who are able to attend all in-person ACI sessions in the Denver metro area
  • Practicing artists who are currently working professionally and/or are looking to make their creative endeavors into a business venture. ACI is ideal for artists who are emerging in their creative career and arts business
  • Working in the creative industries, including visual arts, music, theatre, dance, design, fashion, film/TV, literary arts, crafts and creative placemaking
  • Willing to participate in ongoing program evaluation to assess the short- and long-term impact of the Intensive

CBCA will prioritize an Advancing Creatives Intensive cohort that includes diverse creative practices, expressions and backgrounds in Colorado. The ideal cohort size is 20-25 people.

TIME COMMITMENT AND EXPECTATIONS

Sessions will be held twice a month on Monday evenings in April, May and June. Schedule is subject to change. The current schedule is:

  • April 17 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm
  • April 24 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm
  • May 15 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm
  • May 22 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm
  • June 12 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm
  • June 26 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm

All sessions will be hosted at Arapahoe Community College (ACC)’s Art & Design Center, 2400 W Alamo Ave in downtown Littleton. A light dinner will be provided at each session.

There will also be informal cohort meet-ups and homework assignments in between sessions to help maximize the impact of the program.

Participants are expected to make every effort to attend the entire Intensive. There will not be a virtual or hybrid option.

PROGRAM FEES

Tuition for this Advancing Creatives Intensive (ACI 2023: Denver Metro) is $250 per participant.

Tuition covers all associated program materials and a light dinner at each session. Tuition does not cover any travel costs or parking.

CBCA offers flexible payment plans. Partial scholarships are available. If you are interested in applying for a partial scholarship, please contact Meredith Badler at mbadler@cbca.org in advance of the application deadline on March 24.

Tuition is non-refundable once remitted and enrollment in the ACI 2023: Denver Metro program is non-transferable.

APPLICATION

All application materials must be received by end-of-day Friday, March 24. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status no later than March 31.

If you have any issues with this application or uploading attachments, please contact Meredith Badler at mbadler@cbca.org

You cannot save and return to this form. Be ready to submit all content and attachments at once.

ACI 2023: Denver Metro Application

Name(Required)
Preferred Address(Required)
If you do NOT have a website or social media that demonstrates your creative work, please submit up to three relevant work samples (i.e., video links, images, music files) that illustrate your creative practice. Contact mbadler@cbca.org regarding work sample submissions.
What is your primary creative genre(s)?
Please check all that apply
How long have you been working in your primary creative genre?
How did you hear about the Advancing Creatives Intensive?

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION & ACCESSIBILITY

All of the demographic and accessibility questions are optional. CBCA is committed to our equity, inclusion, diversity and accessibility (EIDA) work. This information helps to assess our progress and inform ongoing outreach and program changes. Responses are for internal-use only and won’t be shared publicly.
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Gender
Please check all that apply
Pronouns
Please check all that apply
How do you primarily identify your race?
Please check all that apply
How do you primarily identify your ethnicity?
Please check all that apply
Would accommodations in any of the following categories be helpful to you?
Please check all that apply
Please us this space to self-identify or elaborate on your selection.

YOUR CREATIVE PRACTICE AND GOALS

These questions are to assess a baseline for the cohort and get a sense of your personal goals for the Intensive and professional goals for your creative career. You cannot save and return to this application. Be ready to submit your answers all at once.

Accompanying Materials

If you have any issues uploading these files, you can also email them separately to Meredith Badler at mbadler@bca.org.
Must be a PDF file. 5MB max
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 5 MB.