Fueling the Creative Economy

Growing the creative entrepreneur sector in Indiana builds stronger communities

That’s a tenet embedded in the mission of the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). With a focus on training, supporting, and developing artists in various disciplines, IAC’s statewide On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program was established in 2018 to support arts-and-culture-based businesses. Participants are eligible to receive fellowship funds upon completing the accelerator to help put their plan into action.

"Indiana is a really attractive place to be a creative entrepreneur, but they need more support,” says IAC Executive Director Miah Michaelson. “We know that training is important, but what’s also important is follow-up funding to help them achieve their small business development goals.” Illustrators, music producers, art therapists, screenwriters, and ceramicists are just a few of the creatives turning artistic talent into full-time business. To date, 150 artists from across the state have participated in On-Ramp, resulting in an ever-expanding network of creative #entrepreneurs.

One musician from the program recently received his first royalty check after scoring a film. Others use the On-Ramp fellowship funds to get training to launch new initiatives. “Their business might have been a side hustle or something they thought they’d like to do,” says Michaelson. “But they either didn’t have a plan or weren’t feeling confident. With training and support, they were able to take it full-time.”

Support from the Indiana Small Business Development Center (Indiana SBDC) has been crucial in showing that creative #entrepreneurs are an important part of our communities. By designating cultural districts across the state, the Art Commission also hopes to enhance the many positive impacts #creative assets have on communities. “We recognize the power of creative activity and encourage folks to think about it not just from a quality-of-life perspective, but also for the economic benefit,” says Michaelson. “We’re about building stronger communities through art, creativity, and creative entrepreneurship programs, and of that, we’re really proud.”

Read more in the Entrepreneurship Indiana yearbook to learn how Indiana supports entrepreneurs and helps their businesses thrive. #EntrepreneurshipIN22