ART Venture 2015 could be your golden opportunity

Innovative business development programme in the creative sector is open for Expressions of Interest

ART Venture, a unique acceleration programme for entrepreneurial people working in Auckland’s creative sector is on the lookout for its next intake of participants. Up to twelve creative entrepreneurs will be awarded a place on the programme, which is valued at up to $35,000.

Now in its sixth year, ART Venture is looking for entrepreneurial practitioners, producers and leaders who are serious about accelerating their skills, projects, organisations and businesses. “ART Venture is customised to each individual participant, so we are looking for people from across the spectrum of Auckland's arts, culture and creative sectors. That includes those who are more experienced and wanting to take what they do to the next level of success, as well those in the early stages of enterprise development who are keen to get off to a strong start. All are creative, entrepreneurial people with passion for what they do and who have great projects that they want to further”, says Candy Elsmore from Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART).

Participants on the programme will join a ‘wrap around’ creative business accelerator that is bespoke and responsive to individual participants’ needs. Programme Director Elisabeth Vaneveld explains, “The programme provides a flexible customised action-learning environment that through peer-to-peer support, specialist coaching, a seed fund pitching process and an innovative curriculum accelerates each participant’s creative enterprise.”

ART Venture is a golden opportunity for acceleration now and into the future. “We have been hugely impressed by the progress that previous Art Venture participants have made since leaving the programme. As high-achievers, many of them have substantially advanced their goals during a very challenging time for the arts, culture and creative sectors, and the national and global economies” says Elisabeth Vaneveld.

For creative producer and ART Venture 2013 participant, Renee Mark, the programme empowered her to utilise her industry experience to develop and start-up, transmedia company, Make Your Mark. “On Art Venture I started a social enterprise with the kaupapa of developing the creative capital of Maori by championing undiscovered Maori entrepreneurs and developing a slate of media projects that explore alternative methodologies for script development, production, distribution and exhibition.”

Renee says that ART Venture was a key part of developing and launching her enterprise. “As a result of Art Venture, I achieved greater clarity around my business idea and my confidence has grown. It has opened new networks and changed my behaviours. I felt supported and connected through the learning environment, peers on the programme, the specialist coaching, the pitching process and the curriculum. But my most valued learning was unlocking the business potential of my idea and turning my ambitions into action plans.”

Artist, curator and ART Venture 2013 participant, Ross Liew, came to the programme on the recommendation of colleagues. He says, “I was interested in ART Venture primarily on the back of what had been said about it by a few people who had already participated. It appeared there had been a palpable boost to the way these people were going about things - enough to get my attention.”

His journey through ART Venture came at a time when he was looking for new directions in his work and creative career. “Throughout ART Venture rather than develop a project or business, I kept the focus on myself, as a person first and as a professional close after. I had reached a ceiling, plateaued, run the well dry and all the other metaphors for having hit the wall. The ART Venture programme gave me the time, space and provocations to examine myself, to stop and actually think deeply into what I do, why I do it and whom I do it for. It helped me articulate a sense of purpose that is true for all aspects of my life.”

Ross says “Beyond the nuts and bolts, advice, support and assistance, it is the shift in thinking that has been the most significant change for me. To really understand what opportunity looks like, to know that there is a way forward with everything and that limitations are negotiable. It's powerful stuff.”

Expressions of interest close on Monday, 8 September.

Find out more about ART Venture including what previous participants have said and whether the programme is right for you by going to the expressions of interest page.

Experience a taste of ART Venture to find out if it’s for you // Meet the team // Hear from previous participants // Bring your questions

Date: Monday, 25 August, 5.30 – 8.30pm // Venue: Q Theatre Lounge, 305 Queen Street, Auckland

RSVP for catering at: artventure.eventbrite.com

Further information:

ART Venture is an initiative of Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi, in partnership with The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui.

Previous Participants in ART Programmes

Over 60 creative entrepreneurs have already benefited from their participation in the 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 ART Venture and ART Source (now part of ART Venture) programmes including:

Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART)

Through its unique and innovative programmes and approach, ART is growing entrepreneurship in Auckland’s arts, culture and creative industries sector to generate cultural, creative and economic outcomes that benefit everyone.

Programmes:

ART’s creative enterprise development programmes back high-achieving creative people intent on growing Auckland’s cultural capital into rich creative, social and economic outcomes. ART’s programmes accelerate and maximise business and career development outcomes for participants, creating a confident and prosperous creative sector and wider community benefit, now and into the future.

Background:

The City Councils of Auckland and Manukau created the Arts Regional Trust: Te Taumata Toi-a–iwi (ART) in 2000 to manage and grow their combined share of funds ($6 million) provided through the disestablishment of Auckland Regional Services Trust.

Since then ART has invested over $3 million since inception in Auckland’s arts, culture and creative industries sector through groundbreaking ART programmes: ART Venture, ART Source, ART Enterprise and ART Generator. The capital fund has grown to $9.4 million under ART’s stewardship.

For further information, please contact:

ART Venture 2015 Expressions of Interest – Melanie Weeks, ART Venture Administrator melanie.weeks@thebigidea.co.nz

ART Venture 2015 – Elisabeth Vaneveld, Programme Director, 027 490 7113 elisabeth.vaneveld@thebigidea.co.nz

Arts Regional Trust – Candy Elsmore, Project Director, 027 279 0002 info@artsregionaltrust.org.nz

Photo captions:

1: Ross Liew receiving his award of a place on ART Venture at the 2013 ART Awards

2: Renee Mark (ART Venture 2013 participant)

5: ART Awards 2013 Alumni Production Body Painting Mem Bourke (ART Venture 2008)

6: ART Awards 2013 Alumni Production Creative Director Margaret-Mary Hollins (ART Venture 2013)

7: MC Tim Bray (ART Venture 2012) welcoming the audience at the 2013 ART Awards

ART Venture 2015 could be your golden opportunity

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