State investing in assets for artist program
The state Department of Economic and Community Development is collaborating with The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and several other arts organizations to bring to Connecticut a program that helps artist-entrepreneurs.
The Assets for Artists program offers grants and professional development workshops to artists in Connecticut, primarily in underserved rural areas. The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, and Windham Arts also are teaming up for this two-year pilot program.
For this pilot round, 10 artists will receive matching grants of $1,000 or $2,000 to invest in the expansion of their creative enterprise, along with professional development training, and individualized support with business planning to make the most effective business investments possible.
Financial support for the program is a combination of federal, state and private funds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Development Grant program is providing $25,000, $13,000 from DECD, and $5,000 from MASS MoCA.
The goal of the Massachusetts program is to expand throughout the Northeast and the Connecticut partnership marks the first step. To date, the program has assisted more than 200 artists and invested more than $500,000 in their creative businesses, and has delivered hundreds of hours of artist-focused financial and business training.
The application period for Assets for Artists is open to rural Connecticut artist-entrepreneurs until Dec. 11, 2015.
