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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. CBC exists so artists can spend more time being creative.

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The Creatives' Breakfast Club is hosted by ARTSwork and
Iowa Center for Economic Success.

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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, October 26, 2024 


Check In & Networking Opens: 9:30 a.m. 
Session: 9:45 – 11 a.m.

Topic: Grant Writing, with guests from The Iowa Center, Mainframe Studios, and Iowa Arts Council
 

Cost: FREE! But please save your seat by using the registration link.​

Location: Des Moines Arts Festival / ARTSwork office, located inside Mainframe Studios, 900 Keo Way, Ste. 431, Des Moines. Free parking is available under the building and in the lot directly to the south. 

2024 SCHEDULE

2024 SCHEDULE

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.

REGIONAL STUDIES
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Creative Economy Initiative Action Plan & Artist Needs Assessment
Regional Cultural Assessment
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Des Moines Music Economy Assessment & Strategy
CBC Resources

Join the Club

Subscribe to this special email with information specific to creative entrepreneurs.

ARTSwork is supported by

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photography by Abby Geletta, Alan Jacobs, Alyssa Monroe, Austin Uitermarkt, Brendan Ver Steegh, Cameron Seitz, Damian Andersen, David Benna, Dwight Tomes, James Peterson, John Ryan, Katherine Taylor, Keely Rosenberg, Madeleine King, Mtimukeye Frorence, Nick Bergen & Steven Volk.

©2023 by Des Moines Arts Festival

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