Earlier this week, the Indiana Arts Commission announced that 33 artists across the state have received support through two different programs: The Work in Progress Micro-Support Grants, and the Creative Leap business strategy series.
The Creative Leap is a workshop series that is focused on business strategy for established creative entrepreneurs in Indiana, and twelve small business owners attended this series of business coaching workshops and group check-ins over the past four months. Entrepreneurs who completed the full series received a $1,000 honorarium to put toward purchasing business resources that were identified during the series to accompany their newly revised business strategy.
The participants of the program, and their small businesses, include:
Audrey Johnson, Tippecanoe County, Of Thee I Sing: American Heritage Through Song, LLC
Brian Teixeira, Porter County, Teixeira Artisan Woodwork
Clare Longendyke, Hamilton County, Pianist
Desiré Wuertemberger, Tippecanoe County, Necessarily Nerdy
Devonna Miltenberger, Hamilton County, Gifts That Give Studio
Emily Bennett, Vigo County, Emily Bennett Studio
Janelle Slone, Steuben County, Relic Emporium
Jose Martinez, Marion County, Soleado Events and Entertainment LLC
Matthew Ramsey, Knox, OptiViz Media
Susan Atwell, LaPorte County, Dye Job Yarn & Fiber
Tracy James II, Marion County, Julian James BLG
Victoria Kintner, Boone County, Concert Adventures for Early Childhood
The Work In Progress: Exchange Labs were in-person convenings for artists to gather to discuss topics of interest such as the status of current projects, creative practices and careers, and how they engage the various phases of the creative process. Artists who participated in at least one Exchange Lab meeting were eligible to apply to the Work In Progress: Exchange Labs Micro-Support Grant. The Micro-Support Grant Program was a competitive grant program providing funding of between $250 – $1,000 to support a current project connected to Exchange Lab discussions, topics, or an artist’s individual practice. Applications were evaluated based on artistic vision and project alignment, project management and planning, and community benefit and career development.
The full list of Micro-Support Grant recipients is below:
Alexander Pare, Putnam County
Alicia Thomas, Marion County
Anita Westhues, St. Joseph County
Audrey Johnson, Tippecanoe County
Becky Hochhalter, Vigo County
Bowen Tao, St. Joseph County
Brian Teixeira, Porter County
Cameron Alford, Allen County
Chad Copeland, Porter County
Christopher Wilborn, Marion County
Cynthia Phillips-Sabla, Vigo County
Dana Caldera, Allen County
David Buenrostro, Allen County
Dawn Diamantopoulos, Lake County
Dominique Harris, Marion County
Emily Bennett, Vigo County
Gabrielle Roach, Clay County
Gregory Potter, Johnson County
Hannah Rutigliano, Allen County
Jessica Renslow, Lake County
John Sherman, Marion County
Joseph Swanson, Wayne County
Justin Kane Elder, Wayne County
Kaylan Buteyn, Allen County
Kerri Mommer, Lake County
Makenzie Lukas, Marion County
Michael Stevenson, Clay County
Richelle Brown, Marion County
Rod Bradfield, Vigo County
Susan Atwell, La Porte County
Susan Yanos, Henry County
Travis Park, Marion County
Victoria Goring, Sullivan County
More upcoming programs and resources for creative entrepreneurs can be found at in.gov/arts.
