Advancing Creatives Intensive (ACI) 2025: Manitou Springs Application

Creative workers and small businesses are the powerhouse behind Colorado’s economy and community development. Every artist, regardless of discipline, has their own definition of success for their creative work. It takes a combination of business savvy, focus, investment, and a community of support to achieve that vision.

Organized by the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA), the Advancing Creatives Intensive (ACI) is a curriculum 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 2025: Manitou Springs program will be a condensed, weekend-long version of the ACI curriculum from February 21-23, 2025.

ACI 2025: Manitou Springs is ideal for artists of all disciplines who are emerging in their creative career and arts business. Topics include goal setting and planning, marketing and promotions, 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 Stipends up to $500 to support their ongoing work.

ACI 2025: Manitou Springs is sponsored by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPR) and presented in partnership with the Manitou Arts Center and the Creative Alliance Manitou Springs (CRANE).

APPLICANTS SHOULD BE:

  • Residents of Colorado who are able to attend the full in-person, weekend-long program in Manitou Springs
  • 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 10-20 people.

TIME COMMITMENT AND EXPECTATIONS

The ACI 2025: Manitou Springs program will be over the weekend of February 21-23 at the Manitou Art Center (513 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829) in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The tentative schedule below includes meals and breaks.

  • Friday, February 21 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm
  • Saturday, February 22 from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
  • Sunday, February 23 from 9:00 am – 11:30 am

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

PROGRAM FEES

Tuition is for this weekend Intensive is $250 per participant.

Tuition covers all program materials and meals, including two breakfasts, two dinners, and one lunch. Overnight lodging and travel expenses (such as parking and mileage) are not included.

CBCA offers flexible payment plans. Partial scholarships are available. Please contact Meredith Badler at mbadler@cbca.org in advance of the application deadline on January 17 to discuss a potential scholarship.

Tuition is non-refundable once remitted and enrollment in the Advancing Creative Intensive in non-transferable.

APPLICATION

All application materials must be received by end-of-day Friday, January 17. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status no later than January 24.

If you have any issues with this application or uploading attachments, please contact Lindsey Bell at lbell@cbca.org 

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

ACI 2025: Manitou Springs 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 lbell@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

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 Lindsey Bell at lbell@cbca.org
Must be a PDF file. 5MB max
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 5 MB.