Tamarack Foundation for the Arts Business Accelerator is a 6-month arts business cohort program for women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) arts-focused business owners and facilitated by Elaine Grogan Luttrull, Minerva Financial Arts. The overarching goal is to build business and financial knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in women and BIPOC-owned arts-focused small businesses while creating community among participants. 

Tamarack Foundation for the Arts (TFA), in partnership with the WV Hive, recognizes the need to support the development of women and BIPOC-owned small businesses within southern West Virginia counties and areas declared ARC-distressed or at-risk. The TFA Arts Business Accelerator aims to increase the number of arts-focused small business startups owned by women and BIPOC and increase the capacity and growth of already existing women and BIPOC-owned arts-based small businesses in southern West Virginia. TFA will accomplish this by providing a cohort of 20 individuals with small-business development training, coaching, access to accountants, learning workshops, monetary subsidies to access markets, and networking opportunities over a six-month training period.  

WHO CAN APPLY:

This program is focused on women from low to moderate income households and members of the BIPOC community who live in or own a business in the program service area, which includes the following counties: Boone, Fayette, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, and Wyoming.

Limited Space: 20 participants

REVISED APPLICATION DEADLINE:  The original deadline was January 20, 2023.

NOTE: THE NEW DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION IS FEB 1, 2023.

NOTE: If you are not in this program service area, but you would like to participant in a program like this, please let us know at this link: https://forms.gle/JEn65Esop6qKUYvn6. 

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

As part of this program, participants will

• Build portfolio careers to monetize creativity

• Plan for realistic business costs 

• Use effective record-keeping systems

• Prioritize tax deductions for creative entrepreneurs 

• Increase financial knowledge, habits, and self-efficacy 

• Obtain business licenses and sales tax licenses, if appropriate

• Increase access to business education, support, capital, and markets 

• Increase networking opportunities with peers

• Strengthen the small business ecosystem in their regions 

Participant commitment 

As part of the program, participants will commit to the following activities:

• Participate in three consultation sessions with the instructor

• Attend the in-person TFA Arts Business Accelerator Bootcamp in Beckley, Feb. 23 and Feb 24 (meals will be provided; a travel stipend and/or lodging will be provided, based on travel distance; a caregiver stipend is available upon request)

• Attend the virtual WV Creative Network monthly Lunch and Learn series (one Wednesday a month from 12-1pm, March through August)

• Participant in one monthly group check in with the instructor and peers

• Set personal goals and work to achieve those goals with support from the entrepreneurial coach, TFA, peer-learning, and additional resources

• Report progress, challenges, and experiences to the instructor