CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BUSINESS OF CREATING WORKSHOPS
Our series of creative entrepreneurship workshops provide tailored assistance for small businesses, artists, and nonprofit ventures. These include stand-alone workshops designed to meet you where you are in your venture. These workshops range in topics, focussing on pricing, marketing, and customer discovery. Additionally we offer access to our webinar video library, Roadmap Goal Setting Workshop, and Get Started Workshop.
CO.STARTERS
CO.STARTERS is an action-driven, collaborative process with a small and supportive group of like-minded people. Led by a facilitator who is an experienced entrepreneur, you’ll identify your assumptions about why and how your businesses will work and then talk to customers in order to validate your ideas. This approach enables you to rapidly uncover flaws in your concept and find viable models more quickly. You’ll leave the program with a deeper understanding of how to create a sustainable business, articulate your model, and repeat the process with your next great idea. Participants receive one-on-one time with the facilitators, support from Create Birmingham staff during and post-graduation, membership in the alumni network, and access to the CO.STARTERS Graduate Resources.
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CREATE CONSULTS
Have a business question, challenge, or idea you’re ready to work through? CREATE Consults connects Birmingham-area creatives and entrepreneurs with experienced professionals for personalized, one-on-one guidance.
This fall, Create Birmingham is partnering with Welch Financial Group to provide one-on-one consulting support to CO.STARTERS alumni. Advisors from Welch Financial Group will serve as consultants, bringing their professional experience and expertise to help participants assess challenges, identify opportunities, and develop practical strategies for moving their businesses forward.
CREATIVE COMMUNITIES
Create Birmingham will partner with City of Birmingham’s Department of Community Development on a year-long initiative designed to equip Birmingham-based artists, creative entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders with the skills, tools, and real-world experience needed to compete for and successfully execute municipal contracts and community development projects. By intentionally integrating creative entrepreneurship with targeted creative placemaking, this program aims to strengthen the local creative ecosystem while advancing equitable, community-driven solutions to challenges facing under-resourced neighborhoods.
OFFICE HOURS
Are you an artist, entrepreneur, or nonprofit looking to grow your resources, expand your network, launch a new project or enhance an existing one? Create Birmingham's Office Hours give you the opportunity for a 45-minute consultation with our staff. Whether you are an early stage, mid-career, or established, we are here to help answer your questions and offer actionable tips and practical advice in person.
Office Hours are offered every Thursday of the month. Appointments are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and must be made in advance. If you find yourself unable to attend, please notify us as quickly as possible so that we offer that time slot to someone else.
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
Building something great is hard work. There are so many questions about what you need, where to go, and how to do it. What's harder is that so much is entirely dependent on what kind of business you have. We've put together a one-stop shop for what you need to get going if you're a business operating in Birmingham City. You'll find some are industry specific, some are based on the city or county you are operating in. Some are required for everyone in the state. If you are a business operating outside of the City of Birmingham, you can follow the framework using your local municipality. Being an entrepreneur can be stressful. Don't let it be lonely.
VIDEO LIBRARY
Our webinar library is designed to provide arts & culture organizations in Birmingham and across Alabama with insights, resources, and tools to grow effectively and sustainably. These conversations, with guest experts range in topics including marketing, strategic planning, fundraising, board development, finance and legal issues, and community collaboration. They are tailored to the needs of arts practitioners, with in-depth discussion about strategies, opportunities, and challenges in the sector.
This video library is free to access.