ADELAIDE HILLS: Artselerate SA

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.

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.