Blogger Brit Bravo for The Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship wrote a great post today highlighting 25 organizations offering cultural and creative entrepreneurship training. Check it out.

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” ~Alvin Toffler Suddenly it’s feeling like spring here in Chicago, and I am reminded of my own commitment to be the driver — and not just passive...

Artists frequently develop rigid ideas about what they should and can do with their artistic lives.  Too often, these priorities are based on “normal” familiar paradigms, rather than burning desires inspired by creative imaginations. Such limited viewpoints often prohibit us from realizing meaningful...

For those of you who know me, and for those of you who do not (yet), it is not a secret how passionate and determined I have been throughout my professional career in the arts to help artists not only survive but make a difference with the talents they have. And yet, I cannot say often enough, it is...

Are you a mid-career museum, preservation, or historic site professional with a desire to change your institution and engage your community? Do you wants to learn how innovators in cultural institutions apply the tools of successful businesses, and acquire the skills of an  entrepreneurial leader? If...

Interested arts entrepreneurs should consider entering the 2010 Chicago Business Plan Competition NOW, and share in $10,000 in prizes. FREE business plan writing workshops will be offered in Chicago every Wednesday in March to support the contest. Deadline is April 5th. Also sharpen your mind and your...

For our Chicago readers and, maybe more specifically, our Chicago writers…there’s an event coming up this weekend that we don’t want you to miss.  The Chicago Zinefest is a brand new event that’s trying to shine the spotlight on the Chicago zine community and bring a little connectivity...

If I told you I could make a genie came out of this lamp and grant you three wishes for anything in the world you wanted would you believe it could really happen? How far are you willing to believe in what your imagination can do for you and your future as an artist? The truth of the matter is that...

Or can you? Never mind, who cares, I was merely trying to tie a Bob Seger lyric into a review of a stunningly fulfilling documentary about the freaks, geeks, and outcasts that are currently molding and personifying the brands most of us grew up with.  Michael Jackson and Ray Charles have gracefully...

Not everyone reacts the same and there is no universal fix. Don’t try to use all these fixes at once. Pick out items from this list and try them out until you find the right combination for you. Visualization strategies that can be used anytime Concentrate on how good you are at public speaking. Pretend...

Our p.a.v.e. program in arts entrepreneurship brought in a fabulous artist as its March speaker. Leni Schwendinger is a lighting designer and public artist whose work is visible in New York, Seattle, Glasgow, Philadelphia, Dallas, and elsewhere. She was also named by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce...

At The Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship (IAE) we believe in leadership, strategic thinking, collaboration, persistence and learning from experience. These qualities have been and always will be a part of the models for the successful artist. The IAE teaches artists that they too are vital towards...

Once again I woke up this morning to a white world, with Chicago getting more snow overnight. That means I need to think differently now about people and plans and how I’m going to travel (as I hear a car spinning its wheels in the distance, desperate to leave a parking space). Suddenly the way...

Henry Fogel, the most well known executive director to orchestras and orchestral musicians around the world, gave this speech to The National Association of School Music administrators in November of 2009.  As I read it my heart jumped for joy! It is so deeply satisfying to see someone with so much...

A composer wants to get more performances of her music.  So she sends off scores to a number of competitions and new music groups.  Problem is, even though her compositions are strong, so are a lot of other pieces.  Wouldn’t it be better to network with educators, performers, and ensembles who aren’t...

There’s a fascinating article up over at the Atlantic today on how the Grateful Dead were utilizing many more contemporary business tactics before they even existed.  Things like allowing their fans to tape and share live shows, social networking and more.  For independent producers, freelancers...

Claiming Creativity: Art Education in Cultural Transition A Joint International Symposium presented by Columbia College Chicago in partnership with the European League of Institutes of the Arts April 21-24, 2010 Chicago, USA Claiming Creativity seeks to re-position creativity as a driver not only for...

Zoe Keating shares this hilarious (and true) presentation on what it is like to be a touring musician. Thank you David Cutler and The Savvy Musician for finding this video for us to share!!

Author and marketing guru Seth Godin recently made this suggestion: Invent a Holiday...   Find an emotion that needs social approval in order to be easily expressed.  Hook it into something you sell or do.  Discover other organizations that would benefit from the holiday as much as you would.  Voila!...

So, this Friday The IAE is hosting this real fun private networking event for artists and entrepreneurs at Rockit Bar in Chicago downtown. We have had a lot of people sign up for the event. We even released another 50 tickets for more folks to attend and they, too, all went fast.  Feels great to have...