Advancing Creatives is CBCA’s artist professional development and business skills education programming. Through Advancing Creatives, CBCA hosts, coordinates and partners with speakers and organizations to build the entrepreneurial skills, business know-how, and professional capacity of Colorado’s creative workforce.
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.
Launched April 2022, 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.
ACI is focused on tangible business growth and planning for artistic careers, as well as building business skills like marketing and financial management. The cohort-based approach incorporates peer learning, networking and accountability. The Intensive will enable artists of all kinds to see their work through an entrepreneurial lens and employ tools to organize, plan, and sustain their creative career.
2025 Advancing Creatives Intensive (ACI) Cohorts
ACI 2025: Manitou Springs: February 21-23, 2025 in Manitou Springs, CO ACI 2025: Denver Metro: Six sessions on Monday evenings, April-June, 2025
ACI 2025: Denver Metro will be held at venues in the Aurora Cultural Arts District with these tentative dates: April 14, April 28, May 5, May 19, June 2, and June 16.
More information on ACI 2025: Denver Metro, including the application, will be available in early 2025. Stay tuned!
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). 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.
DEADLINE
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.
