Think Rotary for creatives. The Creatives’ Breakfast Club offers central Iowa creative entrepreneurs opportunities to connect with peers and advance their professional career development and education.
2026 Schedule Coming Soon
The Creatives' Breakfast Club is hosted by ARTSwork and is open to anyone in the creative sector.
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Join us for business and career development tips for artists of all disciplines; plus, you'll get to know your artist neighbors and we'll be sharing artist opportunities in our community! Complimentary coffee and pastries will be provided.
Up Next...
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Check In & Networking Opens: 9:30 a.m.
Session: 9:45 – 11 a.m.
Topic: Don't Ask Your Mom - Asking for, receiving, and implementing critiques of your work.​
Panelists: Jennifer Lee, clay // Chris Vance, painting & mixed media
Cost: FREE! But please save your seat by using the registration link.
Note: leave your work at home! We won't actually be critiquing anyone's work during the session!
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Location: Des Moines Arts Festival / ARTSwork office, located inside Mainframe Studios, 900 Keo Way, Ste. 455, Des Moines. Exit the elevator to the left and walk to the end of the hall. Free parking is available in the lot south of the building. Enter through the doors off Center Street.
The Creatives' Breakfast Club is hosted by ARTSwork and is open to anyone in the creative sector.
​
Join us for business and career development tips for artists
of all disciplines; plus, you'll get to know your artist neighbors
and we'll be sharing artist opportunities in our community!
Complimentary coffee and pastries will be provided.
About Creatives' Breakfast Club
The Creatives’ Breakfast Club (CBC) in central Iowa is a valuable platform for creative entrepreneurs to connect, network, and advance their careers. By meeting on the last Saturday of each month (January - May and September - December) at Mainframe Studio 455, the CBC offers a consistent and accessible opportunity for creatives of all disciplines, fostering a diverse and collaborative environment. The CBC’s sessions include networking time and a featured speaker, with topics specifically chosen to enhance business and networking skills.
One notable aspect of the CBC is its partnership with the Iowa Center for Economic Success. This collaboration demonstrates a commitment to supporting creative entrepreneurs in launching and growing their small businesses. By aligning with an economic development organization, the CBC provides creatives with the necessary resources and guidance to succeed in their artistic endeavors.
The CBC was created by ARTSwork, a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports artists across various disciplines. As the sister organization of the Des Moines Arts Festival, with a mission to “Impact Lives Through Art,” the CBC is part of a larger ecosystem that aims to enrich the lives of individuals through the power of artistic expression.
What is a creative entrepreneur?
A person who uses their creative abilities to make money. Creative Entrepreneurs take their work and create a business model around selling their work to sustain a living for themselves. This can include artists (painters, ceramicists, designers, writers, illustrators), makers (jewelry, hatters, florists), and movers (dancers, musicians, actors).
Project History
In 2016, Bravo Greater Des Moines commissioned the Central Iowa Regional Cultural Assessment to identify art and culture priorities that best support the Capital Crossroads vision plan catalyst priorities. The assessment identified “Strengthening the Creative Economy by developing the talent and skill sets of creative entrepreneurs and artists” as one of four cultural priorities.
In 2018, Bravo Greater Des Moines and the Des Moines Arts Festival pooled resources and connections to understand further opportunities in strengthening the creative economy in the local artist ecosystem. The organizations hired artist and arts and business strategist Chris Dahlquist to conduct a feasibility study that would lead to an action plan for professional development and capacity-building programs for regional artists of all disciplines. The study engaged local artists through workshops, round table discussions, one-on-one interviews, and an Artist Needs Assessment Survey.
The study results outlined three key strategies:
1. Strengthen cross-discipline artist networking: creative opportunities for artists of diverse backgrounds, disciplines and career stages to collaborate with and learn from one another.
2. Facilitate communication: establish a virtual resource center to provide information regarding opportunities, available resources/programming, and information on best practices.
3. Provide life-long learning opportunities. Coordinate relevant capacity-building programming for artists, ensuring a variety of access points for artists at all stages of artistic development.
The Des Moines Arts Festival evaluated this data and began to collaborate withthe Iowa Center for Economic Success on the development of the Creatives’ Breakfast Club curriculum.
2026 SCHEDULE
All meetings take place the last Saturday of each month
(unless noted otherwise due to holidays and summer break).
Meetings are scheduled 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and registration is required.
All meeting are held at the ARTSwork office, located inside Mainframe Studios:
900 Keosauqua Way, Studio 455, Des Moines
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February 28 // Taxes
March 28 // Pricing with Purpose
April 25 // Critiques
May 30 // TBA
September 26 // TBA
October 31 // TBA
November 21 // TBA
December 19 // Holiday Gathering & Open Forum
(sessions will not be held June - August)
*Topics Subject to Change
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REGIONAL STUDIES
Creative Economy Initiative Action Plan & Artist Needs Assessment
Regional Cultural Assessment
Des Moines Music Economy Assessment & Strategy
Join the Club
Subscribe to this special email with information specific to creative entrepreneurs.