York, PA – Beginning November 8, 2021 in partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the York County Economic Alliance (YCEA) and with funding support from the J. William Warehime Foundation, the Cultural Alliance of York County will launch the Creative Accelerator program to offer small business consulting services and grants for artists and creators in York County. By pairing interested creatives with a community Navigator who will help connect them to appropriate resources, this program will create a network of new relationships and easier access to business tools and funding.
In contrast to past grant programs, a simple letter of interest (LOI) will be all that is necessary for individual creatives to begin the process of engaging with the Cultural Alliance. Based on basic information in the LOI, creatives will be matched with an appropriate Navigator who will guide them through the process of receiving educational, business planning and/or financial resources to launch or grow their business.
“Based on our data and feedback in 2020 and 2021, it was clear that we needed to make a bold change in the way we understand and distribute resources to our creative community.” Rita Whitney, Program Coordinator and Directors of Communications and Engagement.
With the new Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program, the amount of funding available to York County creatives will double in 2022. Priority will be given to creative entrepreneurs who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (“BIPOC”) and those who are in and whose work benefits low-income communities as defined by the Small Business Administration.
The Letter of Interest will open on November 8, 2021 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested creatives can fill out the Letter of Interest at here.
The Cultural Alliance is now hiring for the positions of 5 community Navigators who will work alongside the organization to connect creators with business and financial resources, as well as educational opportunities. For a description of the Community Navigator role and to apply, visit: https://www.culturalyork.org/cultural-alliance-navigators/
Questions can be directed toward Rita Whitney at Rita@culturalyork.org.
Founded as a United Arts Fund in 1999, the Cultural Alliance’s annual campaign currently supports arts organizations and artists that are essential to arts and culture in our community and over the past 22 years invested $12 million in cash and $2.5 million in in-kind support for the arts. Through critical operational grants, the Cultural Alliance is the lifeline for arts and culture in York County.
For more information, call the Cultural Alliance at 717-812-9255, visit our website at www.culturalyork.org, visit the Cultural Alliance of York on Facebook, and follow @CulturalYork on Instagram.
