Meet the Fall 2023 Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative Cohort!

Charlotte Is Creative is thrilled to announce the 15 local artists selected for the Fall 2023 Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative Cohort (CEI)

This immensely talented group represents a fraction of the impressive applicant pool and showcases a diversity in background, experience and creative disciplines including music, apparel, poetry, photography, arts education, digital art, visual art and community theater. 

WHAT IS CEI?

Beginning in August, cohort members will be paid to take part in introductory business training courses and workshops, many of which will be available for public audit. They will network with fellow CEI members, alumni and Charlotte’s expanding creative and business community. After successful completion of the CEI program, cohort members will receive a $1,500 honorarium to invest in their creative business.

CEI is intended to help cohort members bolster their creative and artistic skills with the knowledge and framework needed to succeed as small businesses in a business-oriented city.

CEI was developed by Charlotte Is Creative and supported by Wells Fargo and Mecklenburg County with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as well as support from Aspire Community Capital, Interact Studio and the DoGreater Foundation.

Applications for the Spring 2024 CEI cohort will open in September.

MEET THE FALL 2023 COHORT

TY ANDINO-MCBRIDE
Visual Art | 
WEB | IG

UMAYAL ANNAMALAI
Visual Art | WEB | IG

KATHERINE BANKSTON
Music | WEB | IG

ESTHER BARRAGAN
Visual Art | WEB

TERRY CREECH
Poetry, Arts Education | WEB | IG

WES CURRY
Theater | WEB | IG

DENEER DAVIS
Visual Art | WEB | IG

DELILAH EBY
Knitwear/Apparel | WEB | IG

JASON HACKNER
Music | WEB | IG

ALI LONCAR
Visual Art | WEB | IG

NIGEL MALONE
Music, Photography, Digital Art | WEB | IG

MELANEE MARSHALL
Visual Art | WEB | IG

CHALICE MEIKLE
Visual Art | WEB | IG

CORINE OLARTE
Photographer | WEB | IG

CLAUDE WHITFIELD
Music | WEB | IG

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