LEICHHARDT: Pricing for Indigenous Creatives
2025-06-17 11:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Sydney)
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event in partnership with Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative.

What should I charge? This question plagues creative practitioners and arts no matter what industry. Working out what to charge for creative products and services can be a colossal challenge. Where to even start? Join us for this interactive workshop designed specifically for Aboriginal creative practitioners.

‘Pricing for Indigenous Creatives’ is a FREE practical workshop that covers the basics of figuring out the price point for creative work, including calculating costs and understanding the marketplace what to charge for creative products and services. ‘Pricing for Indigenous Creatives’ is vital for any creative struggling to understand the value of their own work, and how to share that value with others. It’s a fun and relaxed workshop that explores a variety of practical options for pricing, specifically designed for Aboriginal artists, makers and creatives.

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You will learn the following, with a special focus on Aboriginal arts practice and creative industry:

+ The beginnings of the process and working out how much everything costs. + Working out the unit cost measurement, and its place in the costing process. + The value of time, and how to measure effectively. + Choosing the right pricing method for your products and services. + Understanding how to evaluate the marketplace with the right kind of research. + The psychology of pricing, and how it impacts on what you can charge for your work.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Monica Davidson – Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist, performer, and filmmaker. Monica has a Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor in 2013. In 2016 Monica founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, an organisation dedicated to educating creatives about small business skills, financial literacy and marketing.

What is CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email: education@creativeplusbusiness.com

Venue: Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, 55-59 Flood St, Leichhardt, SydneyNSW 2040

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

Image: Jasmine Sarin showcasing her artwork as part of a live artwork activation for NAIDOC Week. Photo courtesy Boomalli.

ONLINE (NSW): Pricing for Creatives
2025-06-12 18:30 - 20:30
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event in partnership with West Darling Arts.

What should I charge? This question plagues creative practitioners and arts no matter what industry. There are answers, but they are fascinating and complicated.

Working out what to charge for creative products and services can be a colossal challenge. Where to even start? ‘Pricing for Creatives’ is a free, practical online workshop that covers the basics of figuring out the price point for creative work, including calculating costs and understanding what the market can bear. ‘Pricing for Creatives’ is vital for anyone struggling to understand the value of their own work, and how to share that value with others.

BOOK NOW

With a specific focus on the arts and creative industries, this workshop covers:+ The beginnings of the process and working out how much everything costs. + Working out the unit cost measurement, and its place in the costing process. + The value of time, and how to measure effectively.+ Choosing the right pricing method for your products and services. + Understanding how to evaluate the marketplace with the right kind of research. + The Psychology of Pricing, and how it impacts on what you can charge for your work.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Dropbox folder full of additional resources and workbooks to help continue the learning after the workshop.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors.

Who is it for? Creative freelancers, established practitioners, arts organisations.

Who is presenting? Emmie Murphy – Emmie Murphy has one foot planted firmly in each world – the arts and small business – and loves helping people turn their creative work into a business reality. She has been an educator for 15+ years and is focused on delivering practical, actionable training where you walk away knowing how to do things, not just why you should.

What’s Creative Plus Business? We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility: if you have any queries or access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. Download our handy Zoom users guide here.

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ONLINE (NSW): Networking Tips for Creatives
2025-06-11 18:30 - 20:30
Networking, meeting new people, developing relationships – all terrifying stuff. Entering the world of networking without a plan or strategy – even scarier!

Networking is a necessity in the creative industries, but many practitioners consider it to be the stuff of nightmares. ‘Networking Tips for Creatives’ is an entertaining hybrid between traditional workshop and social event designed to encourage creative people to get to know each other, while acknowledging the horror, and sharing a few tips at the same time. The first half is dedicated to learning the most effective strategy for effective networking, including preparation and follow up. The second half is a practical opportunity to rehearse some of these tips in a safe and friendly environment, while embracing the discomfort of the whole process and having a laugh.

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Participants will discuss the following tips and share their thoughts about:

+ Preparing for the event, and getting the basics right – introductions, branding, and cards.+ Preparing your conversation in advance and learning how to read the room.+ Tips and tricks for dealing with difficult people. + How to make the networking event a success. + The all-important (and often-ignored) follow-up process.

This is a FREE practical online workshop and participants will have the opportunity to meet each other, practice their introductions, and try out some of the conversation tips discussed.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Wendi Lanham – Wendi Lanham is an actor, presenter, model, and Head of Operations at Creative Plus Business. She has a wealth of experience combining business and creative practice and is well-versed in the myriad ways artists can make money to weather the famine and feast of creative income more effectively.

What is CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email: education@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. Download our free Zoom Users guide here.

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ONLINE (NSW): Creative's Guide to Social Media
2025-06-10 12:00 - 14:00
Social media is everywhere, as are tips and tricks to use it for business. What are the best ways for creative and arts professional to use this powerful marketing tool?

Social media is a complex and challenging marketing tool for a lot of creatives, as it can be very difficult to find a balance between constantly updating the world just about themselves, and ignoring the platforms entirely! ‘Creative’s Guide to Social Media’ is a friendly, up-to-date and interactive online workshop for beginners that covers the basics of how to kickstart marketing using social media, with a focus on the main tools at your disposal and the strategy behind the socials.

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With a focus on people selling in the arts and creative industries, you will learn:+ A new and different definition of social media to consider for the arts and creative marketing.+ The basics of social media marketing, regardless of which platform you choose.+ The strategic process behind using social media for marketing, including R.O.I.+ Understanding audience, and finding out what your followers and fans want and need.+ Choosing the right social media, from the most used and popular platforms right now.+ Content creation tips and ideas for all the most popular platforms.+ Using other methods, and staying up to date.

Resources and templates will also be provided to create a social media marketing action plan.

‘Creative’s Guide to Social Media’ is a collaborative online workshop and participants will be encouraged to share experiences and ideas, make connections and foster peer relationships.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A One-Page Marketing Plan template to assist with the practical elements of the workshop.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

What’s CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Who is presenting?Lillie Brown – Lillie Brown is a freelance marketing strategist and digital marketing consultant for Creative Plus Business. Lillie works with small to medium creative businesses to devise and implement marketing and social media strategies that are easy for creative brains to digest. She walks clients through a comprehensive planning process to create simple to understand and actionable strategies to help them fulfil their vision – including Creative Plus Business!

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. Download our handy Zoom users guide here.

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

PENRITH: Creative's Guide to Selling Online
2025-06-02 17:00 - 19:30
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event in partnership with Penrith City Council.

You’ve poured your passion into your craft, art or products, and the time has come to share with the world. What are the basics to building an online business?

Selling online and using e-commerce can be overwhelming at first, especially for creatives – but where to begin? ‘Creative’s Guide to Selling Online’ is a FREE beginner’s course ideal for any creatives with little or no experience, who have products or services ready to sell, and no idea how to get their online sales set up. The webinar covers the easiest path to digital commerce, and the best ways to untangle the mess of legal jargon, platform choices, and marketing mysteries.

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With a focus on people selling in the arts and creative industries, you will learn:

+ Understanding the process of selling online, including the pros and cons to watch for.+ Preparing for the basics of an online business – registration, banking, accounting, stock management, legal requirements, consumer regulations and more.+ Understanding eCommerce model and choosing the best one for your business.+ Dropshipping and the elements of using external parties to help with sales and productions.+ The customer journey, and how to craft an experience to remember (including unboxing).+ The basics of marketing, how to build an audience and connect with customers.

‘Creative’s Guide to Selling Online’ is a collaborative workshop and participants will be encouraged to share experiences and ideas, make connections and foster peer relationships.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A one-page marketing plan template to assist with the practical elements of the workshop.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

5:00pm Doors open, food served, connect with fellow creatives5:30pm ‘Creative’s guide to selling online workshop with Creative Plus Business7:30pm workshop finishesWhile the workshop starts at 5:30pm, we encourage people to arrive at 5:00pm for canapes and to meet fellow creatives.

What’s CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Who is presenting?Monica Davidson – Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist, performer, and filmmaker. Monica has a Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor in 2013. In 2016 Monica founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, an organisation dedicated to educating creatives about small business skills, financial literacy, and marketing.

VENUE: Borland Lounge, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High St, Penrith NSW 2752

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email education@creativeplusbusiness.comBOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ORANGE: Financial Literacy for Creatives
2025-05-30 14:00 - 16:00
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event presented in partnership with Arts Out West and Orange Regional Gallery.

You can be a professional creative without being a starving artist. Financial literacy may not come naturally, but the secrets of managing money can be learned.

Making a living and building a business means understanding how money works, but the financial situation for creatives can be tricky. Navigating the numbers is not always a happy place, emotions can be overpowering, and who ever learned the basics of business money and financial literacy during their arts training? ‘Financial Literacy for Creatives’ is a surprisingly fun and practical FREE workshop designed specifically by creatives, for creatives, with a range of tips and insights into navigating the realities of financial management in a professional arts practice.

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Participants will learn the following, with a focus on professional arts practice:+ Introduction to the ‘Famine and the Feast’, and understanding how to weather the natural ups and downs of creative income.+ Ways to make better financial decisions by using the cost-benefits analysis tool.+ Learning the basics of budgets and cash flow projection to help navigate financial irregularity.+ The essential paperwork, including managing invoices and receipts.+ Practical steps to getting financially organised, including the best cloud accounting tools.+ More resources and places to go for help.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!Who is Presenting?Wendi Lanham – Wendi Lanham is an actor, presenter, model, and Head of Operations at Creative Plus Business. She has a wealth of experience combining business and creative practice and is well-versed in the myriad ways artists can make money to weather the famine and feast of creative income more effectively.

Join us for the day!We encourage you to book for both workshops and meet fellow creatives.Please book separately for both workshops through Business Connect.+ 11:00am ‘Future Planning for Creatives’ workshop with Creative Plus Business (book here)+ 1:00pm Enjoy networking with fellow creatives+ 2:00pm ‘Financial Literacy for Creatives’ workshop with Creative Plus Business+ 4:00pm Workshops conclude

What is CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email: education@creativeplusbusiness.com

Venue: Orange Regional Gallery, 149 Byng St, Orange NSW

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect?Service NSW Business Connect provides free independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one-on-one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ORANGE: Future Planning for Creatives
2025-05-30 11:00 - 13:00
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event presented in partnership with Arts Out West and Orange Regional Gallery.

A business or strategic plan is more than a way to make a bank or funder happy. It can be a truly invaluable tool to help you figure out where you’re going – and why.

Summarising your creative business or arts organisation into a written plan is a great idea, but without guidance it can become a stale and unused document that never gets implemented. ‘Future Planning for Creatives’ is a FREE workshop that reframes and explains the planning process in a way specifically designed for creative learners, and with a focus on creating practical action plans that work. With plenty or templates and tools to discuss, this friendly and real-world workshop will help arts practitioners from beginners to more experience professionals.

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Participants will discuss the following, with a focus on arts practice and creative industries:+ The planning process in general, and how to understand the different types.+ A look at the ‘traditional’ business and strategic plan, and the sections to focus on.+ The importance of understanding the benefits of a vision, mission and values statement.+ Choosing the right template for your purposes.+ The reality of planning a professional approach with a busy personal life and artistic practice.

Resources and templates will also be provided for a variety of both business and strategic plans.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A practical Workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Wendi Lanham – Wendi Lanham is an actor, presenter, model, and Head of Operations at Creative Plus Business. She has a wealth of experience combining business and creative practice and is well-versed in the myriad ways artists can make money to weather the famine and feast of creative income more effectively.

Join us for the day!We encourage you to book for both workshops and meet fellow creatives. Please book separately for both workshops through Business Connect.+ 11:00am ‘Future Planning for Creatives’ workshop with Creative Plus Business+ 1:00pm Enjoy networking with fellow creatives+ 2:00pm ‘Financial Literacy for Creatives’ workshop with Creative Plus Business (Book here)+ 4:00pm Workshops conclude

What is CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Venue: Orange Regional Gallery, 149 Byng St, Orange NSW

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements please email: education@creativeplusbusiness.com

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

WEBINAR: Super for Creatives
2025-05-28 18:00 - 19:00
You’re entitled to super and you may not even know it!

Most people working in the creative industries are entitled to superannuation, even when they work with an ABN. That’s been the case for some time, but the majority of creatives are unaware of this rule. There are other changes on the horizon, especially if you have to pay other people – and yes, the contractor rule applies then too!

This FREE webinar will go through the rules around the super that you’re entitled to, how to check, what to do if you think you should have been paid, and how to pay other people.

In this webinar we’ll discuss:

The basics – what is super, and how does it work?

Who pays super, and when it’s due, and the changes coming.

How to work out if you’re entitled to super.

What to do if someone owes you super.

What to do when you have to pay other people.

Part of our Evening Education series!

BOOK NOW (Via Crowdcast)

What’s Included?A 60 minute webinar with our creative industries expert (which you can access later if you want) plus lifetime access to additional resources.

Who’s it for?Creative and arts practitioners, freelancers, start-ups, small arts organisations, and arts entrepreneurs from beginners to established (international sign-ups welcome!).

Who are the Hosts?Monica Davidson – Monica is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist, performer, and filmmaker. Monica has a Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor in 2013. In 2016 Monica founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, an organisation dedicated to educating creatives about business skills, financial literacy, wellbeing, and marketing.

What’s Creative Plus Business?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility: if you have any queries or access requirements, please email education@creativeplusbusiness.com.

This webinar will be provided via Crowdcast. REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL.

Click the Book Now link below to reserve your place now.

BOOK NOW (via Crowdcast)

New to CROWDCAST? Check out our handy ‘How to register and use Crowdcast’ Guide here.

ONLINE (NSW): Time Management for Creatives
2025-05-27 18:00 - 20:00
Creative practitioners and arts professionals juggle an array of tasks and projects, not to mention their personal priorities as well. How on earth to make time for it all?

Most creatives are pushed to the limit when it comes to time management. Many are juggling work, freelancing gigs, passion projects, admin and marketing demands, as well as the other challenges that might come from parenting, caring responsibilities and other personal factors. There are solutions to these vexing issues, but there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The added complexities of neurodiversity and creative thinking mean that more than one tactic might help. ‘Time management for creatives, is a fun and relaxed online workshop that explores a variety of practical options for time management, specifically designed for a range of learning needs.

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With a specific focus on the arts and creative industries, this online workshop covers:+ The different approaches and individual definitions of what ‘time management’ means.+ The importance of breaking down what ‘time success’ and priorities mean for you.+ The difference between deadlines and goals, and how to make that work in your favour.+ Challenges to better time keeping, including all the different methods of procrastination.+ Apps and processes that can help to create better time systems.+ Bringing habits and small changes into effect for the long-term time management gain.

‘Time Management for Creatives’ is a collaborative online workshop and participants will be encouraged to ask questions, share experiences and ideas, make connections and foster peer relationships.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links,+ Templates for budgets and other accounting requirements,+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop,+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

What’s CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Who is presenting?Wendi Lanham – Wendi Lanham is an actor, presenter, model, and Head of Operations at Creative Plus Business. She has a wealth of experience combining business and creative practice and is well-versed in the myriad ways artists can make money to weather the famine and feast of creative income more effectively.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. Download our handy Zoom users guide here. BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

SYDNEY: THRIVE CONNECT 2
2025-05-21 17:30 - 19:30
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event supported by the City of Sydney.

Join us for the second THRIVE CONNECT meetup event, Marketing Maestros. This quarterly series of meaningful meetups will combine networking with skills development for creative practitioners, artists, innovators, and small businesses, hosted at hubs and venues across the Sydney CBD. Each event will include a guest speaker and theme, with suggested conversation topics to make networking easier and connections more interesting.

Reaching new audiences, and keeping our current ones engaged, is never-ending. Our second meetup invites marketing expert Belinda Daly from The Marketing Edit to chat with Monica Davidson about out-of-the-box ways that creative businesses can approach marketing. With a specific focus on finding new ways to market and promote ourselves, our work, and our businesses in a world where the impact of social media is changing, our guest speakers will be sharing innovative ways to spread the word about your work, and develop lasting relationships with clients and consumers.

Registration is FREE and every THRIVE CONNECT includes plenty of time for networking (nibbles included).

BOOK HERE VIA HUMANITIX

Venue: The Rose of Australia, 1 Swanson Street, Erskinville.

WHO’S SPEAKING?Belinda Daly, the founder of The Marketing Edit, is a senior marketing, digital, and communications consultant with 25+ years’ experience in the retail and property sectors. She’s led award-winning customer experience programs and specialises in multichannel, customer-led strategies. Belinda has played a key role in branding and launching major developments like Pacific Fair, Macquarie Centre, and Rhodes Shopping Centre. She now runs a consultancy focused on precinct, retail, and property marketing, and also publishes Darling Magazine for the Balmain Rozelle precinct. Her customer-led approach simplifies the complexities of marketing for businesses.

WHAT’S THRIVE?THRIVE SYDNEY is a new program of events, mentoring, and online experiences designed to enhance the professional development and wellbeing of Sydney’s artists and creative community. Supported by the City of Sydney and produced by Creative Plus Business, THRIVE brings to the city four initiatives to help creative professionals and artists come together, hear from inspiring industry leaders, access free professional development opportunities, and build new creative and professional networks.

By attending a THRIVE Connect event you’ll gain access to a dedicated private LinkedIn group, the THRIVE Toolkit (a trove of online resources, business templates, and a free professional and business development course), and be able to book in with a creative industries specialist for free mentoring about your practice or business.

WHAT’S CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

BOOK HERE VIA HUMANITIX

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com.The venue entry is on street level and has lift access to Level 4.

Want to know more about THRIVE?

Visit the Thrive website here.

Interested in the next upcoming THRIVE CONNECT events? Check out the events page here or register to get updates here.

ONLINE (NSW): Creative's Guide to Funding
2025-05-20 18:00 - 20:00
A workshop dedicated to the basics of how to write, manage and maintain funding.

Grants, funding, procurement, scholarships and awards are often held up as the holy grail of a successful arts career, but this revenue stream also takes hard work, dedication and patience. After all, there’s no such thing as ‘free money’. ‘Creative’s Guide to Funding’ is an online workshop showcasing the basics of preparation, application, and acquittal for any kind of funding, as well as getting organised for future applications. It’s packed with information and suitable for novices and more experienced funding-seekers alike. There is always more to learn about funding!

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In the FREE online workshop participants will learn all the following, with a focus on arts practice and creative industries:+ The different kinds of funding available. + Creating a funding folder and deadline calendar for regular applications.+ Writing the application – and avoiding the most common errors. + Getting the money right, with budgeting and income (including templates).+ The acquittal process – and how to recover from setbacks. + The five main ways to avoid ‘failing’ at funding.

Resources, examples and templates will also be provided for a variety of applications.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources.+ Downloadable templates and project plans to support all kinds of funding applications+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who’s the Host?Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a national and international creative producer with over 10 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours. Cat has worked as a creative consultant, story producer, screen development producer, educator and mentor.

What’s Creative Plus Business?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility: if you have queries or any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. To download our handy Zoom users guide here.

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

SYDNEY: Screen Artselerate NSW
2025-05-16 09:00 - 17:00
Applications now closed

Download the Brochure

Screen Artselerate is now full. If you would like to be on the waiting list for any future Artselerate programs please email education@creativeplusbusiness.com.

Delivered in partnership with Screen NSW as part of their Industry Development Program.

SCREEN ARTSELERATE NSW is a creative business incubator and professional networking opportunity designed exclusively for screen professionals across New South Wales.

SCREEN ARTSELERATE NSW is a unique in-person program specifically for screen practitioners in NSW that combines all the benefits of a business incubator, start-up accelerator, creative collaboration and networking opportunity. The outcome is a fast and practical approach to business and strategic planning for filmmakers who are building their careers and making their own work.

SCREEN ARTSELERATE NSW helps participants devise practical goals for their screen businesses and creative careers, with realistic actions ready to be implemented, and creates a continued connection with other screen professionals through a guided peer support program and ongoing connection to experts.

What Does it Involve?

+ Pre-program ‘homework’ involving accessing and reviewing materials online. This material will introduce the program content, including an understanding of cultural safety.

+ Attending two sets of two-day in-person sessions involving tutorials, guest speakers, practical activities, resource sharing, and networking opportunities. Participants must be able to attend all sessions.

+ The option to undertake 4 x 1-hour creative business mentoring meetings with an industry expert.

+ Participation in our guided ‘Buddy peer support program.

+ Ongoing connection to the Screen Artselerate NSW Alumni through a private Facebook Group.

Other Program Elements to Note:

The program includes practical activities, both solo and group-based.

Participants gain access to a Dropbox folder with resources, templates, and workbooks.

Enjoy free webinars on a range of creative business topics.

Who’s it For?

SCREEN ARTSELERATE is a program designed for screen professionals at any stage of their development across NSW. Ideally, you are committed to improving your professional and creative capacity and developing your business and marketing skills in an accelerated way, through a practical approach. You also need to be engaged, enthusiastic, and willing to commit to participating in the whole program. That means all the in-person workshops and in-between meetings.

You can be from any area of screen practice, including writing, production, post-production, producing, performance, broadcast, distribution, VFX, corporate production and games.

Or anything in between!

We actively encourage applications from people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people living with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. We also welcome people of all genders.

Your Program Facilitator

Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist and filmmaker. In 2014 Monica completed her Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business at AFTRS, and was appointed as the first NSW Creative Industries Business Advisor by the Department of Industry. Shortly after she founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, which is dedicated to educating creative people about small business and marketing skills. In 2019, Monica was awarded the QUT Creative Enterprise Australia award for being a Creative Trailblazer that “advocates, mentors, donates, educates and advises within Australia’s creative economy”. Monica continues to work as a writer, filmmaker and occasional performer.

What’s Creative Plus Business?

We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Dates & Venue

The in-person sessions are held in two blocks of two days. Participants need to attend ALL sessions, along with self-managed learning and optional mentor meetings. Each session day runs from 9.00am to 5:00pm on the following dates:

+ Friday 16 May & Saturday 17 May 2025+ Friday 27 June & Saturday 28 June 2025

Venue: Our venue partner is Arts and Cultural Exchange (ACE), 8 Victoria Road, Parramatta, NSW 2150.

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please check out the comprehensive Access and Amenities page on the ACE website or contact our Education Coordinator, Fiona Pulford via fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com for assistance.

The Fine Print

+ Suitable applicants will be chosen on a first-in first-served basis.

+ There is no fee attached for attendance, as the entire program is subsidised. Similarly, applicants will not be paid to attend, nor will their time be compensated.

+ It is a requirement of enrolment that participants attend all sessions, unless an emergency arises.

+ You will be notified of the outcome of your EOI within 2 weeks of applying.

+ You can be from any area of screen practice, including writing, production, post-production, producing, performance, broadcast, distribution, VFX, corporate production and games.

+ Some previous professional screen experience is favourable. This includes freelancing, employment, and/or previous study. However, while some degree of professional experience is preferred, you can still apply with less experience if other aspects of your EOI are strong.

+ Participants must arrange their own accommodation, travel, and meals.

+ Participants are expected to bring a laptop and/or writing materials.

+ You must be aged over 18, and be a resident of NSW in order to participate.

+ The program also requires activities to be completed between sessions. This is approx. 4 – 6 hours of additional work each week.

Applications now closed

Download the Brochure

SCREEN ARTSELERATE NSW is delivered in partnership with Screen NSW as part of their Industry Development Program.

ONLINE (National): Social Enterprise for Screen
2025-05-16 09:00 - 17:00
Submissions have closed

Download the Program

A CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS Program in partnership with the Screenrights Cultural Fund.

The first ever opportunity of its kind in Australia, Social Enterprise for Screen is a national masterclass program designed to empower under-represented filmmakers who want to use the power of screen to make the world a better place. Successful applicants will have their placement fully-subsidised, made possible by the Screenrights Cultural Fund.

Over this rigorous thirteen-week online program you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge required to build a sustainable screen organisation that can also contribute to positive social change, using the organisational model of social entrepreneurship.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Here’s what to expect if you join us for the program:

12 x 2.5 hours online sessions full of collaborative tutorials, guest speakers, practical activities and presentations, resource sharing and networking activities.

2 x 1-hour expert creative business mentor meetings.

Approx. 4 – 6 hours of guided activities between sessions.

Participation in our guided ‘Screen Buddy’ peer support program.

Develop your own Strategic Plan and Pitch Video.

WHO’S IT FOR?

The program has been created and tailored for participants who are from under-represented sectors of screen industry leadership, including First Nations filmmakers, People of Colour, culturally and linguistically diverse filmmakers, women and gender-fluid people, the LGBTQIA+ community, regional filmmakers, and people living with disability.

To get the most from this program you will have some experience in the screen industry preferably with some freelance work behind you, and the ambition to build a business that has a specific focus on creating work that supports positive social impact and disrupts the traditional models of film production. You might be a solo practitioner, a partnership, or part of a small team.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Social Enterprise Models: A comprehensive understanding of social enterprises and how you can use the model in screen production to support positive change both on- and off-screen.

Narrative Development: Learn how to develop new ideas for compelling narratives narratives that showcase social enterprise stories.

Understanding Impact: Social Enterprises need to measure their impact. You’ll learn how to measure and evaluate the social impact of your business and your filmmaking.

Your New Network: Throughout the program you’ll be building a network of like-minded individuals committed to social change through film. Your next collaborator could be in the room!

Empowered Filmmakers: You’ll be learning how to empower yourself and other under-represented filmmakers to use social enterprise modelling for collaboration, community-building and strategic disruption.

Project & Plan: By the end of the program, you’ll have completed a draft for your own social enterprise strategic plan, and a video pitch for your business. You’ll also get feedback from industry experts about your project and plan!

WHAT’S CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?

The program is delivered by Creative Plus Business, a national social enterprise dedicated to advancing the business skills and entrepreneurialism of creative practitioners.

It has been designed by the company’s Doyenne and founder, Monica Davidson, who brings over thirty years of screen industry and social enterprise experience to the project.

DATES & DETAILS

Participants will need to attend 13 x online sessions, along with some self-managed learning and mentoring sessions. Each online learning session in the program runs weekly on a Thursday evening from 6:00pm – 8:30pm.

PROGRAM DATES

Thursday 15 May – Thursday 7 August 2025

EOI Dates

Applications open Wednesday 19 February 2025Applications close Friday 4 April 2025

THE FINE PRINT

Suitable applicants will be selected via applications. You will be notified of the outcome of this EOI by the end of April 2025. You must be aged over 18 and be a resident of Australia in order to participate.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

Submissions have closed

Download the Program

SCREENRIGHTS CULTURAL FUNDThe Screenrights Cultural Fund makes a difference by supporting people with exciting and innovative new initiatives that foster the creation and appreciation of screen content in Australia and New Zealand.

ONLINE (NSW): How to Start a Creative Business
2025-05-15 18:30 - 20:30
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event in partnership with West Darling Arts.

Curious about turning your creative practice into a fully-fledged small business? Loving your artistic hobby, and wondering if you have the chops for freelancing?

This fun and friendly FREE online workshop will cover all the essentials you need to get the basics of creative business right, and avoid some of the most common pitfalls that artists can experience when entering the world of self-employment and freelancing. ‘How to Start a Creative Business’ was designed by creative practitioners for absolute beginners, and it’s a friendly safe space where every question is a good question, and the mysteries of business will become a little clearer.

BOOK NOW

You will learn the following, with a special focus on arts practice and creative industries:+ Setting goals and making a plan for your start-up journey,+ The basics of business including ABNs, structures, business names and licences,+ The legal steps to registering your business,+ Getting ready for managing the money,+ Preparing for marketing and promotion,+ Where to go for more help.

‘How to Start a Creative Business’ is your passport to a world where you can be creative, make money from your craft, and love your work.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a national and international creative producer with over 10 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours. Cat has worked as a creative consultant, story producer, screen development producer, educator and mentor.

What is CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.Accessibility: if you have any queries or access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. Download our handy Zoom users guide here. BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ONLINE (NSW): Diversify Your Creative Income
2025-05-13 12:00 - 14:00
Surviving and thriving financially as a creative practitioner usually means doing more than one thing to make a living – but where to start, and what to do?

Creative businesses often need help to brainstorm all the possible ways to diversify their income streams (especially now!) and become more financially sustainable. ‘Diversify Your Creative Income’ is a free interactive online workshop that allows participants to discuss the various general ways that creatives can make money (including services, goods and passive income), and includes practical exercises to help brainstorm those ideas.

BOOK NOW

This workshop examines:+ Defining your core, complementary and supplementary offerings;+ Using a skills audit to help inspire new ideas and ways of thinking about making money;+ The ‘cheat sheet’ – a collection of tried-and-true ideas including online sales, passive income, productifying a service, selling experiences, education, mentoring and more;+ The testing process, and how to identify whether or not these ideas are actually “good”.

What do I get?All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Dropbox folder full of additional resources and help;+ A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops;+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop;+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a national and international creative producer with over 10 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours. Cat has also worked as a creative consultant, story producer, screen development producer, educator and mentor.

What’s Creative Plus Business?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. Download our handy Zoom users guide here.

BOOK NOW

What is NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start, run, adapt or grow your small business. Creative Plus Business provides confidential, independent business advice and skills training for small and medium creative businesses across NSW as part of the NSW Government’s Business Connect program.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

WEBINAR: Tax Basics for Creatives
2025-05-12 17:30 - 19:00
A Create NSW webinar in partnership with CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS.

Set yourself up as a freelancer and avoid the most common pitfalls.

Tax is painful but an inevitable part of surviving and thriving in the creative industries. Managing the annual and ongoing obligations of tax as a creative means getting an understanding of what’s involved in the first place, getting organised, and learning about the unique position that creative professionals hold in the Australian tax landscape. It’s not fun, but a few simple tips and tricks (anda friendly face) can help.

‘Tax Basics for Creatives’ is a workshop that covers the basics of how tax works for creative professionals, the intersection between individual tax and small business, and how key creative tax rulings can help creative practitioners in the tax world.

BOOK NOW (Humanitix)

With a specific focus on the arts and creative industries, this workshop will cover:

+ Understanding what basics of how tax works – jargon, income, expenses, and what to pay.+ How to calculate ‘taxable income’ and ‘assessable income’.+ The key creative tax rulings, and what they mean in practical terms.+ Hobby vs Business, how to work it out, and why it matters.+ The basics of tax deductions and how to figure out what you’re entitled to.+ Easy tips and tricks for getting organisation, record keeping, and cloud accounting platforms.+ Where to get help – an introduction to the Groovy Accountants.

All participants of this workshop receive:

+ Access to a licensed version of the webinar. + Access to a Dropbox folder with additional resources and helpful links. + A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops. + Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop. + The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors.

Who’s it for?A webinar for individual creative and arts practitioners, freelancers, start-ups, and arts entrepreneurs from beginners to established.

Who are the Hosts?Join Monica Davidson, Creative Plus Business Director + Doyenne.

REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL. Click the Book Now link below to reserve your place now.

BOOK NOW (Humanitix)

About CREATE EXCHANGELaunching in early 2025, Create Exchange is a program designed to support individual NSW artists and creative practitioners with the skills to thrive in their creative business.

This series of webinars, presented by Create NSW, will feature artists and leading industry experts who will provide you with the tools to navigate the business fundamentals of contracts, copyrights, grant application writing and more.

Suited for individual creative practitioners, this webinar series will provide essential skills to establish a successful, sustainable and thriving creative practice.

MARRICKVILLE: Funding Fundamentals
2025-05-09 16:30 - 18:30
A CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event in partnership with INNER WEST COUNCIL.

A workshop dedicated to the basics of how to write, manage and maintain funding.

Grants, funding, procurement, scholarships and awards are often held up as the holy grail of a successful arts career, but this revenue stream also takes hard work, dedication and patience. After all, there’s no such thing as ‘free money’. ‘Funding Fundamentals’ is a workshop showcasing the basics of preparation, application, and acquittal for any kind of funding, as well as getting organised for future applications. It’s packed with information and suitable for novices and more experienced funding-seekers alike. There is always more to learn about funding!

BOOK NOW via Humanitix

In the FREE workshop participants will learn all the following, with a focus on arts practice and creative industries:

+ The different kinds of funding available, from grants to procurement and more. + Creating a Funding Folder and Deadline Calendar for regular applications.+ Writing the Application – and avoiding the most common errors. + Getting the money right, with budgeting and income (including templates).+ The Acquittal Process – and how to recover from setbacks. + The five main ways to avoid ‘failing’ at funding.

Resources, examples and templates will also be provided for a variety of funding applications.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources.+ Downloadable templates and project plans to support all kinds of funding applications+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who’s the Host?Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a national and international creative producer with over 10 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours. Cat has worked as a creative consultant, story producer, screen development producer, educator and mentor.

What’s Creative Plus Business?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility: if you have queries or any access requirements, please email education@creativeplusbusiness.com

Venue: Marrickville Library and Pavilion, 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.

BOOK NOW via Humanitix

Inner West Council Arts Grants and information series – get more information here.

CHIPPENDALE: Creative's Guide To Marketing
2025-05-09 11:00 - 13:00
Many creatives hate the idea of selling, but what if marketing could be more than impersonal hustle? How about a strategic approach that focuses on people first?

Marketing is one of the most despised and least understood aspects of running a creative business or working in the arts. Most creatives hate to sell and would rather be making than hustling. However, there is a simple solution to making marketing more palatable – take out the sales and focus on the strategy. The ‘‘Creative’s Guide To Marketing’ workshop shares a simple six-step marketing approach that has been designed to take the pain out of promotion.

BOOK NOW

You will learn the following, with a special focus on arts practice and creative industries:

+ Re-imagining traditional marketing in a way that makes sense for creativity and the arts.+ Getting the foundational elements of “YOU” marketing right, without the terror of a deadline. + Understating the breadth of our ‘customers’, from clients to funding bodies to audience.+ Knowing and learning from our peers, and from word-of-mouth.+ Choosing the best digital and ‘old school’ tactics to help achieve your marketing goals.

More resources and templates will also be provided to help create a marketing action plan. This workshop has been designed by creatives for creatives and includes ideas for ‘homework’.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A practical Workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a national and international creative producer with over 10 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours. Cat has worked as a creative consultant, story producer, screen development producer, educator and mentor.

What is CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

Venue: The Commons Chippendale, 20/40 Meagher St, Chippendale NSW 2008

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ADELAIDE HILLS: Artselerate SA
2025-05-02 09:00 - 17:00
Applications now closed

Download the Brochure

Supported by the Government of South Australia’s Office for Small and Family Business.

ARTSELERATE SA is a unique program specifically for creative practitioners and arts professionals that combines all the benefits of a business incubator, start-up accelerator, creative collaboration, and networking opportunity. Participants set practical goals, build connections, and gain ongoing support from experts and peers.

The outcome is a fast and practical approach to business and career development for creatives making their own work.

What Does it Involve?

+ Pre-program ‘homework’ involving accessing and reviewing materials online. This material will introduce the program content, including an understanding of cultural safety.

+ Attending two sets of two-day in-person sessions involving tutorials, guest speakers, practical activities, resource sharing, and networking opportunities. Participants must be able to attend all sessions.

+ The option to undertake 4 x 1-hour creative business mentoring meetings with an industry expert.

+ Participation in our guided ‘Buddy peer support program.

+ Ongoing connection to the Artselerate SA Alumni through a private Facebook Group.

Other Program Elements to Note:

The program includes practical activities, both solo and group-based.

Participants gain access to a Dropbox folder with resources, templates, and workbooks.

Enjoy free webinars on a range of creative business topics.

There is an informal networking dinner on the Friday night of each incubator (at own cost).

Who’s it For?

Artselerate is a program designed for creative practitioners at any stage of their professional development—it’s a safe and structured melting pot of experiences, attitudes, and ideas to get your planning done!

You could be…

+ An individual artist or maker from any area of the creative industry

+ A recent graduate or fledgling freelancer just getting started

+ Someone representing a small creative organisation or arts not-for-profit

+ A leader from a mid-sized arts or screen organisation who doesn’t have the financial resources to hire a consultant or participate in a more expensive program

Or anything in between!

We welcome keen beans who are based in South Australia from any area of creative practice. Ideally, you are committed to improving your professional and creative capacity and developing your business and marketing skills in an accelerated way, using a practical methodology.

Your Program Facilitator

Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist and filmmaker. In 2014 Monica completed her Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business at AFTRS, and was appointed as the first NSW Creative Industries Business Advisor by the Department of Industry. Shortly after she founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, which is dedicated to educating creative people about small business and marketing skills. In 2019, Monica was awarded the QUT Creative Enterprise Australia award for being a Creative Trailblazer that “advocates, mentors, donates, educates and advises within Australia’s creative economy”. Monica continues to work as a writer, filmmaker and occasional performer.

What’s Creative Plus Business?

We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Dates & Venue

The in-person sessions are held in two blocks of two days. Participants need to attend all sessions, along with self-managed learning, and optional mentor meetings. Each session day runs from 9.00am to 5:00pm on the following dates

+ Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th May 2025+ Friday 30th & Saturday 31st May 2025

Venue: FABRIK Arts + Heritage, Lobethal Woollen Mill, 1 Lobethal Road, Lobethal, SA

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please contact our Education Coordinator, Fiona Pulford via fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

The Fine Print

+ Suitable applicants will be chosen on a first-in first-served basis.

+ There is a fee attached to attendance of $150 + gst. There are options available for people who require a subsidy of 50%, or full sponsorship.

+ You will be notified of the outcome of your EOI within 5 weeks of applying. You will then be sent a link for payment if required.

+ You can be from any area of practice, including screen, music, performing arts, design, fashion, visuals arts, writing and multi-arts.

+ Previous experience in creative business, freelancing or within an arts organisation is not compulsory, but some degree of professional experience is preferred.

+ Participants must arrange their own accommodation, travel, and meals.

+ Participants are expected to bring a laptop and/or writing materials.

+ You must be aged over 18, and be a resident of South Australia in order to participate.

Applications now closed

Download the Brochure

ARTSELERATE SA is an initiative of the Government of South Australia’s Office for Small and Family Business and the South Australian Small Business Strategy 2023 – 2030.

WEBINAR: From Expert to Teacher
2025-04-30 18:00 - 19:00
Transforming your creative practice and hard-earned expertise into meaningful learning experiences for others is a fantastic way to diversify your income and grow as an artist.

“From Expert to Teacher” is a practical webinar designed specifically for creative professionals who want to teach. We’ll be chatting to experts who have created compelling educational programs from their arts experience, discussing the continuum between casual classes and workshops to academic lecturing, and ways to find an audience for your expertise.

We’ll also chat about:

Knowing when you’re ready to turn your skills into something teachable;

Identifying and addressing gaps in your knowledge;

Distinguishing between personal experience and transferable teachable knowledge;

The nitty gritty and why it matters – venue, structure, experience;

How to follow-up and build relationships for future bookings.

Regardless of your creative practice, “From Expert to Teacher” will share strategic insights and practical tools for emerging educators.

Part of our Evening Education series!

BOOK NOW

What’s Included?A 60 minute webinar with our creative industries experts (which you can access later if you want) plus lifetime access to additional resources.

Who’s it for?Creative and arts practitioners, freelancers, start-ups, small arts organisations, and arts entrepreneurs from beginners to established (international sign-ups welcome!).

Who are the Hosts?Monica Davidson – Monica is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist, performer, and filmmaker. Monica has a Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor in 2013. In 2016 Monica founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, an organisation dedicated to educating creatives about business skills, financial literacy, wellbeing, and marketing.

Nick Bolton – Nick is an award-winning all-media producer. He has provided strategic thinking, content production and distribution for clients in the government, corporate and enterprise sectors. He has also written, directed and produced a wide variety of screen content. Nick is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Ten Alphas, a production company based in Sydney and Wollongong. He also works as an actor and presenter in a wide range of screen content and theatrical productions.

Emmie Murphy – Emmie originally trained as a singer and performer, then worked across the community sector in service provision, quality and project management and community education. Emmie eventually put one foot in each world and developed a model called Community Spiral Work about how to use creativity and the arts to create positive change in the community, opened a community creative school in the Hunter Valley, and bought a tricycle. In between running Wild Learning and helping others launch their creative projects, she is a singer and painter and does ALL the crafts.

What’s Creative Plus Business?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility: if you have any queries or access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com.

This webinar will be provided via Crowdcast. REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL.

Click the Book Now link below to reserve your place now.

BOOK NOW

New to CROWDCAST? Check out our handy ‘How to register and use Crowdcast’ Guide here.

ONLINE (NSW): Creative's Guide To Marketing
2025-04-29 18:00 - 20:00
Many creatives hate the idea of selling, but what if marketing could be more than impersonal hustle? How about a strategic approach that focuses on people first?

Marketing is one of the most despised and least understood aspects of running a creative business or working in the arts. Most creatives hate to sell and would rather be making than hustling. However, there is a simple solution to making marketing more palatable – take out the sales and focus on the strategy. The ‘Creative’s Guide To Marketing’ FREE online workshop shares a simple six-step marketing approach that has been designed to take the pain out of promotion.

BOOK NOW

You will learn the following, with a special focus on arts practice and creative industries:

+ Re-imagining traditional marketing in a way that makes sense for creativity and the arts.+ Getting the foundational elements of “YOU” marketing right, without the terror of a deadline. + Understating the breadth of our ‘customers’, from clients to funding bodies to audience.+ Knowing and learning from our peers, and from word-of-mouth.+ Choosing the best digital and ‘old school’ tactics to help achieve your marketing goals.

More resources and templates will also be provided to help create a marketing action plan. This workshop has been designed by creatives for creatives and includes ideas for ‘homework’.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Lillie Brown – Lillie Brown is a freelance marketing strategist and digital marketing consultant for Creative Plus Business. Lillie works with small to medium creative businesses to devise and implement marketing and social media strategies that are easy for creative brains to digest. She walks clients through a comprehensive planning process to create simple to understand and actionable strategies to help them fulfil their vision – including Creative Plus Business!

What is CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. Download our handy Zoom users guide here.

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ONLINE (NSW): Financial Literacy for Creatives
2025-04-15 18:00 - 20:00
You can be a professional creative without being a starving artist. Financial literacy may not come naturally, but the secrets of managing money can be learned.

Making a living and building a business means understanding how money works, but the financial situation for creatives can be tricky. Navigating the numbers is not always a happy place, emotions can be overpowering, and who ever learned the basics of business money and financial literacy during their arts training? ‘Financial Literacy for Creatives’ is a surprisingly fun and practical FREE online workshop designed specifically by creatives, for creatives, with a range of tips and insights into navigating the realities of financial management in a professional arts practice.

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Participants will learn the following, with a focus on professional arts practice:

+ Introduction to the ‘Famine and the Feast’, and understanding how to weather the natural ups and downs of creative income.+ Ways to make better financial decisions by using the cost-benefits analysis tool.+ Learning the basics of budgets and cash flow projection to help navigate financial irregularity.+ The essential paperwork, including managing invoices and receipts.+ Practical steps to getting financially organised, including the best cloud accounting tools.+ More resources and places to go for help.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A practical Workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!Who is Presenting?Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a national and international creative producer with over 10 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours. Cat has worked as a creative consultant, story producer, screen development producer, educator and mentor.

What is CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. Download our free Zoom Users guide here.

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect?Service NSW Business Connect provides free independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one-on-one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

WOLLONGONG: Diversify Your Creative Income
2025-04-08 18:00 - 20:00
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event in partnership with MerrigongX.

Surviving and thriving financially as a creative practitioner usually means doing more than one thing to make a living – but where to start, and what to do?

Creatives are usually adept at a range of skills, and with a little brainstorming and guidance those various talents can be turned into diversified revenue. Becoming less reliant on a single source of income, whether that’s a job or government funding, can also open up abundant creative and commercial opportunities for savvy creatives and arts organisations. ‘Diversify Your Creative Income’ is an interactive workshop that discusses the various ways that creatives can make money, and includes practical exercises to help inspire and shape some new ideas.

BOOK NOW

Participants will learn all the following, with a focus on arts practice and creative industries:

+ Where to start? The breakdown of a revenue model that works for a range of activities.+ Defining your core, complementary and supplementary offerings. + Using a skills audit to help inspire new ideas and ways of thinking about making money.+ The ‘cheat sheet’ – a collection of tried-and-true ideas including online sales, passive income, productifying a service, selling experiences, education, mentoring and more. + The testing process, and how to identify whether or not these ideas are actually “good”.

This workshop has been designed by creatives for creatives and includes practical activities.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links,+ A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops,+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop,+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Wendi Lanham – Wendi Lanham is an actor, presenter, model, and Head of Operations at Creative Plus Business. She has a wealth of experience combining business and creative practice and is well-versed in the myriad ways artists can make money to weather the famine and feast of creative income more effectively.

What’s Creative Plus Business?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

Venue: The Music Lounge, Wollongong Town Hall, Corner of Crown & Kembla Streets, Wollongong 2500

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect?Service NSW Business Connect provides free independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one-on-one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

KANDOS: Time Management for Creatives
2025-04-01 13:00 - 15:00
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event in partnership with Arts Out West.

Creative practitioners and arts professionals juggle an array of tasks and projects, not to mention their personal priorities as well. How on earth to make time for it all?

Most creatives are pushed to the limit when it comes to time management. Many are juggling work, freelancing gigs, passion projects, admin and marketing demands, as well as the other challenges that might come from parenting, caring responsibilities and other personal factors. There are solutions to these vexing issues, but there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The added complexities of neurodiversity and creative thinking mean that more than one tactic might help.

‘Time Management for Creatives’ is a FREE, fun and relaxed workshop that explores a variety of practical options for time management, specifically designed for a range of learning needs.

BOOK NOW

With a specific focus on the arts and creative industries, you will learn:

+ The different approaches and individual definitions of what ‘time management’ means.+ The importance of breaking down what ‘time success’ and priorities mean for you.+ The difference between deadlines and goals, and how to make that work in your favour.+ Challenges to better time keeping, including all the different methods of procrastination.+ Apps and processes that can help to create better time systems.+ Bringing habits and small changes into effect for the long-term time management gain.

‘Time Management for Creatives’ is a collaborative workshop and participants will be encouraged to ask questions, share experiences and ideas, make connections and foster peer relationships.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A workbook to assist with the practical elements of the workshop.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Join us for the day!We encourage you book for both workshops and meet fellow creatives.Please book for both events separately through Business Connect.+ 10:00am ‘Pricing for Creatives’ workshop with Creative Plus Business (book here)+ 12:00pm Enjoy networking with fellow creatives+ 1:00pm ‘Time Management for Creatives’ workshop with Creative Plus Business+ 3:00pm Workshops conclude

Who is presenting? Monica Davidson – Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist, performer, and filmmaker. Monica has a Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor in 2013. In 2016 Monica founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, an organisation dedicated to educating creatives about small business skills, financial literacy, and marketing.

What’s CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com.

Venue: WAYOUT Artspace, 71 Angus Ave, Kandos NSW 2848

BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

KANDOS: Pricing for Creatives
2025-04-01 10:00 - 12:00
This is a CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS event in partnership with Arts Out West.

What should I charge? This question plagues creative practitioners and arts no matter what industry. There are answers, but they are fascinating and complicated.

Working out what to charge for creative products and services can be a colossal challenge. Where to even start? ‘Pricing for Creatives’ is a practical workshop that covers the basics of figuring out the price point for creative work, including calculating costs and understanding the marketplace what to charge for creative products and services. ‘Pricing for Creatives’ is vital for any creative struggling to understand the value of their own work, and how to share that value with others. It’s a fun and relaxed workshop that explores a variety of practical options for pricing, specifically designed for artists, makers and creatives.

BOOK NOW

With a specific focus on the arts and creative industries, this workshop covers:+ The beginnings of the process and working out how much everything costs.+ Working out the Unit Cost measurement, and its place to the costing process.+ The value of time, and how to measure effectively.+ Choosing the right pricing method for your products and services.+ Understanding how to evaluate the marketplace with the right kind of research.+ The Psychology of Pricing, and how it impacts on what you can charge for your work.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed full of additional resources and helpful links+ A workbook to assist with the practical elements of the workshop.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

All questions are welcome in this relaxed, safe and inclusive workshop. Participants are also encouraged to share their own experiences and network with their fellow practitioners.

Join us for the day!We encourage you to book for both workshops and meet fellow creatives.Please book separately for both workshops through Business Connect. + 10:00am ‘Pricing for Creatives’ workshop with Creative Plus Business+ 12:00pm Enjoy networking with fellow creatives+ 1:00pm ‘Time Management for Creatives’ workshop with Creative Plus Business (book here)+ 3:00pm Workshops conclude

Who is presenting? Monica Davidson – Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist, performer, and filmmaker. Monica has a Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor in 2013. In 2016 Monica founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, an organisation dedicated to educating creatives about small business skills, financial literacy, and marketing.

What’s Creative Plus Business? We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

Venue: WAYOUT Artspace, 71 Angus Street, Kandos NSW 2848BOOK NOW

What is NSW Business Connect? Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start, run, adapt or grow your small business. Creative Plus Business provides confidential, independent business advice and skills training for small and medium creative businesses across NSW as part of the NSW Government’s Business Connect program.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect until June 2025.

Artselerate South Australia Online
2025-04-01 09:00 - 2025-06-30 17:00
ARTSELERATE ONLINE is closed

Download the Program Guide

ARTSELERATE SA is a unique program specifically designed to help South Australian creatives build their small businesses. The in-person events have been a series of intensive incubators designed to help participants devise practical goals for their businesses and creative careers, and to create a local community of practitioners.

ARTSELERATE SA ONLINE: Creative Business Toolkit is a FREE series of 24 recorded workshops and webinars covering a range of topics related to business, money, marketing and wellbeing, specifically for creatives. It enhances the learning of the in-person events and provides an accessible introduction to creative business for practitioners at any stage of their creative career or small arts business.

You must be a resident of South Australia and over 18 to participate.

What Does it Involve?

+ 24 accessible online recordings of workshops and webinars, arranged into four topic areas of Business, Money, Marketing and Wellbeing.

+ Interviews and presentations from creative business experts, across a wide range of industries and levels of experience.

+ Ongoing access to a wide range of additional free webinars on the topics of creative business, professional development, financial literacy and marketing.

+ Ongoing access to a permanent Dropbox folder full of additional materials, resources, information sheets, interesting links and practical workbooks.

+ Templates for both a One Page Creative Business Plan and a One Page Creative Marketing Plan, to be worked through during workshop time and at home.

+ Access to the private Artselerate Facebook Group, where you can continue to connect with fellow online learners and previous ARTSELERATE SA alumni.

Who’s it For?

Artselerate is a program designed for creative practitioners at any stage of their professional development—it’s a safe and structured melting pot of experiences, attitudes, and ideas to get your planning done!

You could be…

+ An individual artist or maker from any area of the creative industry

+ A recent graduate or fledgling freelancer just getting started

+ Someone representing a small creative organisation or arts not-for-profit

+ A leader from a mid-sized arts or screen organisation who doesn’t have the financial resources to hire a consultant or participate in a more expensive program

Or anything in between!

We welcome keen beans who are based in South Australia from any area of creative practice. Ideally, you are committed to improving your professional and creative capacity and developing your business and marketing skills in an accelerated way, using a practical methodology.

Your Program Facilitator

Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist and filmmaker. In 2014 Monica completed her Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business at AFTRS, and was appointed as the first NSW Creative Industries Business Advisor by the Department of Industry. Shortly after she founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, which is dedicated to educating creative people about small business and marketing skills. In 2019, Monica was awarded the QUT Creative Enterprise Australia award for being a Creative Trailblazer that “advocates, mentors, donates, educates and advises within Australia’s creative economy”. Monica continues to work as a writer, filmmaker and occasional performer.

What’s Creative Plus Business?

We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please contact our Education Coordinator, Fiona Pulford via fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

The Fine Print

+ This Online course is free to attend.

+ You can be from any area of practice, including screen, music, performing arts, design, fashion, visuals arts, writing and multi-arts.

+ This course will be offered only for a limited time – 1 April – 30 June 2025.

+ You must be aged over 18, and be a resident of South Australia in order to participate.

ARTSELERATE ONLINE is closed

Download the Program Guide

ARTSELERATE SA is an initiative of the Government of South Australia’s Office for Small and Family Business and the South Australian Small Business Strategy 2023 – 2030.

ONLINE (NSW): Creative's Guide to Selling Online
2025-03-27 12:00 - 14:00
You’ve poured your passion into your craft, art or products, and the time has come to share with the world. What are the basics to building an online business?

Selling online and using e-commerce can be overwhelming at first, especially for creatives – but where to begin? ‘Creative’s Guide to Selling Online’ is a FREE online beginner’s course ideal for any creatives with little or no experience, who have products or services ready to sell, and no idea how to get their online sales set up. The webinar covers the easiest path to digital commerce, and the best ways to untangle the mess of legal jargon, platform choices, and marketing mysteries.

BOOK NOW

With a focus on people selling in the arts and creative industries, you will learn:

+ Understanding the process of selling online, including the pros and cons to watch for.+ Preparing for the basics of an online business – registration, banking, accounting, stock management, legal requirements, consumer regulations and more.+ Understanding eCommerce model and choosing the best one for your business.+ Dropshipping and the elements of using external parties to help with sales and productions.+ The customer journey, and how to craft an experience to remember (including unboxing).+ The basics of marketing, how to build an audience and connect with customers.

‘Creative’s Guide to Selling Online’ is a collaborative online workshop and participants will be encouraged to share experiences and ideas, make connections and foster peer relationships.

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:

+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links.+ A one-page marketing plan template to assist with the practical elements of the workshop.+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop.+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

What’s CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Who is presenting?Lillie Brown – Lillie Brown is a freelance marketing strategist and digital marketing consultant for Creative Plus Business. Lillie works with small to medium creative businesses to devise and implement marketing and social media strategies that are easy for creative brains to digest. She walks clients through a comprehensive planning process to create simple to understand and actionable strategies to help them fulfil their vision – including Creative Plus Business!

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ONLINE (National): Funding F#!k-Up's
2025-03-26 18:00 - 19:00
Applying for funding can be a nightmare, especially when all your hard work results in zero dollars. You are not alone! Even successful applicants can fail, more than once, and in spectacular fashion. Join us in our no-holds-barred free webinar ‘Funding F#!k Ups’ where we expose the most common grant application mistakes that lead to rejection, and hear real-life war stories from our panel of funding experts. Learn from others’ failures and prepare to turn those f*#k ups into funding success!

Part of our Evening Education Series!

BOOK NOW

What’s Included?A 60 minute webinar with our creative industries experts (which you can access later if you want) plus lifetime access to additional resources.

Who’s it for?Creative and arts practitioners, freelancers, start-ups, and arts entrepreneurs from beginners to established (international sign-ups welcome!). This webinar will also be helpful for those managing small to medium arts organisations who would like more insight into neurodiversity in practice.

Who are the Hosts? Monica Davidson – Monica is an award-winning expert on the creative industries, who began her professional life as a freelance journalist, performer, and filmmaker. Monica has a Masters degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor in 2013. In 2016 Monica founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, an organisation dedicated to educating creatives about business skills, financial literacy, wellbeing, and marketing.

Monica will be being joined by:

Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a creative industry specialist and can support customers anywhere. Cat is a national and international creative producer with over 12 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours.

Cat has developed several mentorship programs, most recently a Producer Mentorship program for CALD artists. Cat worked with City of Sydney to increase the scope of this program which now includes mentorship for directors; early career actors; and school children in regional and remote areas. Cat also worked as Manager of Strategic Projects and Engagement at Create NSW, developing a $2.5 million cross-government partnership program with the Department of Regional NSW, and supporting the Arts Culture and Funding Program.

Cat specialises as a Coach and will soon be accredited with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) specialising in support for creative businesses and artists. Her areas of interest are navigating significant transitions and change, defining the “Ideal Self”, designing a long-term vision for your business, and managing wellbeing.

Robbi James – Robbi is a producer, theatre maker, and marketing whizz who has built a portfolio career across media, business and brand development, public relations, and project management. He is a founding member and Executive Director of multi-award-winning production company Rogue Projects, where he has produced fifteen fully-staged works in Australia and internationally, and the Cannes-award winning short film Refused Classification. Before joining the Creative Plus Business leadership team he led national touring company Critical Stages Touring as its CEO, and has been a cultural consultant for organisations large and small, including the Arts Council of Korea. He is currently also the producer of Salon, the NSW arts market and conference for theatre in NSW/ACT, at Arts on Tour.

What’s Creative Plus Business? We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help through sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice. We believe that a bit of naughtiness, tempered with a kind heart and a big dose of professionalism, is the key to helping creative people understand the boring basics of business.

Accessibility: if you have any queries or access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com.

This webinar will be provided via Crowdcast. REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL. Click the Book Now link below to reserve your place now. BOOK NOW

New to CROWDCAST webinars? Download our easy ‘How to Crowdcast’ Guide here.

ONLINE (NSW): Diversify Your Creative Income
2025-03-25 18:00 - 20:00
Surviving and thriving financially as a creative practitioner usually means doing more than one thing to make a living – but where to start, and what to do?

Creative businesses often need help to brainstorm all the possible ways to diversify their income streams (especially now!) and become more financially sustainable. ‘Diversify Your Creative Income’ is a free interactive online workshop that allows participants to discuss the various general ways that creatives can make money (including services, goods and passive income), and includes practical exercises to help brainstorm those ideas.

BOOK NOW

This workshop examines:+ Defining your core, complementary and supplementary offerings;+ Using a skills audit to help inspire new ideas and ways of thinking about making money;+ The ‘cheat sheet’ – a collection of tried-and-true ideas including online sales, passive income, productifying a service, selling experiences, education, mentoring and more;+ The testing process, and how to identify whether or not these ideas are actually “good”.

What do I get?All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Dropbox folder full of additional resources and help;+ A practical workbook to assist with the interactive elements of the workshops;+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop;+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

Who is presenting?Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a national and international creative producer with over 10 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours. Cat has also worked as a creative consultant, story producer, screen development producer, educator and mentor.

What’s Creative Plus Business?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop.

BOOK NOW

What is NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start, run, adapt or grow your small business. Creative Plus Business provides confidential, independent business advice and skills training for small and medium creative businesses across NSW as part of the NSW Government’s Business Connect program.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.

ONLINE (NSW): Cashflow for Creatives
2025-03-18 18:00 - 20:00
Making a living from your craft means learning, understanding and embracing the flow of money in and out of your practice.

Financial literacy and concepts like ‘cashflow’ are necessities for creative practitioners and arts workers who want to take their passion to a professional level. ‘Cashflow for Creatives’ is a free, online workshop designed by creative practitioners to help other artists understand and embrace the rollercoaster of income and expenses that comes with working in the arts. It’s a safe space where every question is welcome, and the mysteries of money will become a little clearer.

BOOK NOW

Participants will learn the following, with a focus on arts practice and creative industries:+ The ‘famine and the feast’ – weathering the ups and downs of creative income.+ The flow of money out – understanding and making realistic budgets.+ The basics of forecasting and how to develop a ‘crystal ball’ for income.+ The flow of money in – understanding income and how to create regularity.+ Practical steps to getting financially organised.+ More resources and places to go for help.

‘Cashflow for Creatives’ is a relaxed and interactive online workshop that guides participants with practical tools and steps tailor made for the arts (not mysterious accounting formulas).

What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with additional resources and helpful links,+ Templates for budgets and other accounting requirements,+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop,+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist advisors. We have a whole team ready to help!

What’s CREATIVE PLUS BUSINESS?We’re a social enterprise dedicated to educating creative people and arts organisations about business skills. We help by sharing practical knowledge in a fun and irreverent way, and everything we do is designed to help creatives to feel more confident and comfortable about the entrepreneurial aspects of their creative practice.

Who is presenting?Cat Dibley – Cat Dibley is a national and international creative producer with over 10 years’ experience producing dance, theatre, tours, and festivals. She has worked at major theatre companies across Australia, Europe, and the US and founded a theatre company in 2011, producing many shows under this banner for mainstage companies, festivals, and large-scale national tours. Cat has worked as a creative consultant, story producer, screen development producer, educator and mentor.

Accessibility: if you have any access requirements, please email fiona@creativeplusbusiness.com

This workshop will take place on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in an email from Creative Plus Business prior to the workshop. BOOK NOW

What is Service NSW Business Connect? Service NSW Business Connect provides free, independent, tailored business advice from experienced advisors in one‑on‑one sessions. We offer practical insights and business skills development. Services also include events and resources on a range of topics for small business.

Creative Plus Business is an approved independent provider for Service NSW Business Connect.
