FREE Business Classes for Creatives – Fall 2023
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Free Business Training Classes for Creatives
Established by Charlotte Is Creative in 2021, the Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative (CEI) is made possible with funds from Wells Fargo and Mecklenburg County with funds allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). CEI also receives resource support from Aspire Community Capital, Interact Studio and the Do Greater Foundation.
CEI empowers Mecklenburg County-based creatives in their endeavors as small business owners by combining capacity-building classes with grant funding. Cohort members are paid $50 to attend each class and get additional support services, promotion and grant funding during their time in the program. After successful completion of CEI, they receive a $1,500 grant to invest in their creative business.
NEW FOR 2023!
Thanks to the support of our sponsors, we are now able to provide two forms of free, business education for Charlotte-Mecklenburg creatives, regardless of whether you are a member of the current CEI Cohort:
Monthly Creative Convos (Online)
Creative Convos are online talks, trainings and Q&As for Mecklenburg County creatives that are free and open to the public. Each session will be led by local subject matter experts eager to share their knowledge with creatives who are ready to take it all in!
Creative Convo Schedule
Creative Convo: Financial Planning
Thursday, November 2 (6-7pm)
Register HERE.
Register HERE.
As a creative entrepreneur, financial planning for your personal and professional endeavors may seem daunting, but is key to sustaining and growing your business. Join Charlotte Is Creative Board Member and Founder of RB Wealth Partners, Rob Bacharach, as he shares exciting ways to grow confident in financial planning. He’ll share how sustaining financial health takes planning and investment and how you can bridge the gap between business wealth and personal wealth!
Creative Convo: The 3 Pitfalls of “Professional Branding”
Thursday, January 25 (6-7pm)
Register HERE.
Register HERE.
Lisa Speer, founder of Speerhead Solutions, believes that branding brings out the soul of your business. Join her as she breaks down the 3 pitfalls of “professional” branding and how you can build a brand for your creative business that reflects your mission and personality.
Resources from Past Creative Convos
Did you miss a Creative Convo or do you want to brush up on something great you learned during one of our past Creative Convos? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. Click on the images below to check out the detailed presentations put together by our past instructors.
Recordings of Past Creative Convos
Click here to view a recording of How to Build a Project Budget by Priya Sircar.
Click here to view a recording of Embracing an Anti-Burnout Lifestyle by Erayna Sargent.
Fall 2023 CEI Sessions Open for Public Audit (In-Person)
Space is limited. All classes below are open for audit for up to 30 creatives.
Register to Audit an Open Fall 2023 CEI Class
We ask that you do not register to attend unless you are sure you can make the course as seating is limited. Classes will be held at DoGreater CRTV Lab (2400 Greenland Ave, Charlotte, NC 28208).