Artists are creative small businesses experiencing urgent and widespread need because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the IAC surveyed over 1,400 Hoosier artists in May 2020, it found creatives want to work and want to be part of the solution for their community, but need new strategies of earning income and connecting with their audience. Read more about the survey here.
About the Program
The On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (On-Ramp) is a national award-winning program designed to provide intense exposure to ten key areas of entrepreneurship and finance and ongoing mentorship and support to participants. Read more about this high-impact program here.
The annual On-Ramp program typically attracts hundreds of applicants but can only accept a small cohort. Expansion into other areas of the state through local On-Ramp teams can result in:
- A significant increase in the number of creative entrepreneurs participating in the On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator and experiencing its long-term benefits.
- Development of a network of statewide teams invested in creative entrepreneurship.
- Connection of entrepreneurs to networks in their communities and regions.
- A new pipeline for entrepreneurial talent for communities and economic development organizations to tap.
Local On-Ramp Teams
The IAC may partner with up to five teams to deliver the On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator on-site in their local community or region by September 1, 2021. A Local On-Ramp Team should be 3-5 individuals that include at minimum an independent artist and a non-arts organization. Each team would be trained, equipped, and compensated to deliver an experience identical to the education and mentorship provided by the IAC’s annual On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator. Teams will use the curriculum and methodology developed by the IAC.
Interested in partnering as a Local On-Ramp Team? Review the full Request for Interest here. Then, assemble your own local team and submit a letter of interest to Anna Tragesser (atragesser@iac.in.gov) no later than February 12, 2021.