Incubate to Accelerate

Learn the business side of creative work in our 10-week arts business program.

“HELPED ME REDIRECT MY CREATIVE SPIRIT TOWARDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP”

“The Accelerator program was rigorous yet fun. It helped me redirect my creative spirit towards entrepreneurship. Not only was I able to be in the company of a cohort of talented artists—from curators, to dancers, to musicians—but all of the facilitators presented highly informative and engaging content. I’ve kept in touch with my cohort and have even collaborated on two shows.”

Maddy Clifford, MADLines

Incubate to Accelerate

 

Grow your skills and confidence in the business of art!

This specially-designed 2023 version of Intersection’s annual Accelerator is crafted specifically for emerging artists, arts administrators, recent college graduates, start-up collaborators, and anyone who wears multiple hats in the arts. Discover how to launch your career, practice or concept in a supportive environment.

Join the program if you are in the “idea” and “start-up” phases of your career or creative venture. Your budding concepts will germinate within the nurturing environment of a creative cohort guided by Intersection’s Director of Professional Development, Amy Kweskin.

PROGRAM FEATURES

10 weeks of programming includes both virtual and hybrid participation options:

  • 8 Zoom Seminars: 1.5-hours each, Zoom-based on Wednesdays from 5:30-7pm PT (recordings available)
  • 5 Hybrid Labs: 1.5-hours each, Tuesdays, 1-2:30pm PT Hybrid (synchronous in person in San Francisco and on Zoom) – attendance is optional
  • 2 Hybrid Gatherings: 1.5-hours each, Hybrid (synchronous in person in San Francisco and on Zoom) on first and last Wednesdays of the program from 5:30-7pm PT
  • 2 hours of 1:1 Mentorship: with Accelerator Alumni – scheduled one-to-one for in-person or virtual
  • 1 textbook: Business of Art: An Artist’s Guide to Profitable Self-Employment (3rd Edition, Center for Cultural Innovation) plus digital worksheets
  • Certificate of Completion

TUITION PER PERSON

  • $450 standard tuition
  • $350 member tuition for Intersection Fiscally Sponsored Projects

OPTIONAL COWORKING SPACE AD-ON

For an enhanced incubator experience you can add on a coworking open desk:

  • 10 weeks of coworking, open desk access: in Intersection’s offices at 1446 Market Street in San Francisco, accessible Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

Includes access to comfortable and spacious desks, meeting rooms, kitchen, wifi, printer, and scanner, plus:

  • 6 free hours of free meeting space access: Choose from our variety of rental rooms for space to gather and collaborate for private meetings, collaborations and rehearsals for the duration of the program. Additional rentals available at a discounted rate.

COWORKING ADD-ON FEE

  • $250 per person per coworking drop-in desk from August 28 – November 2, 2023
  • That’s only $25 per week!

PAYMENTS

Intersection covers your Eventbrite fees.

A payment plan can be arranged by contacting Amy: amy(at)theintersection.org. If you are a member of Intersection for the Arts, contact Amy, Allison or Jamie to determine if funds can be transferred from your FSP account.

FREE INFO SESSION
Attend a 30-Minute Q&A information session on Zoom to learn about Incubate to Accelerate. Register here. 

Happening: 
August 7, 6 – 6:30 PM PST
August 22, 1 – 1:30 PM PST

ACCESSIBILITY: All Zoom-based sessions have closed captioning enabled. A written transcript will be available to all registrants after the workshop. Additional accessibility accommodation can best be fulfilled when communicated within 48 hours of the Zoom-based or in-person sessions start time by emailing Amy: amy(at)theintersection.org

REFUND POLICY: You may request a full refund before the start of the program. Once the program has begun, you can receive a pro-rated refund based on the week of withdrawal. There is no refund for the textbook, which is yours to keep.

Contact

Questions? Reach out to Amy Kweskin Director of Professional Development at amy@theintersection.org.

 

Enroll in Incubate to Accelerate
Click here to access Info Session Recordings & Materials
Program Dates:   August 28, 2023 – November 1, 2023
Week 1 ~ August 28 - September 3, 2023

Monday, August 28, 2023

  • Begin Coworking Open Desk (optional ad-on)

Wednesday, August 30, 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Launch Gathering (hybrid: in-person and on Zoom)
    • 1446 Market Street, San Francisco
      • Introductions and Practice Share
      • Program Overview
      • Lifestages on the Arts Business/Career Lifecycle
      • SMART Goal: Survive > Stabilize > Thrive
Week 2 ~ September 4 - 10, 2023

Tuesday, September 5, 1:00-2:30pm PT 

  • Optional Lab A (hybrid in-person and on Zoom)
    • 1446 Market Street, San Francisco
      • Working in small groups and with Amy

Wednesday, September 6, 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Seminar 1 (on Zoom, will be recorded)
    • Vision + Values = Mission
    • Mentor Meetings
Week 3 ~ September 11 - 17, 2023

Wednesday, September 13, 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Seminar 2 (Zoom, will be recorded)
    • Articulation of your Art/Skill Offering
    • Introduction to the Business Model Canvas (BMC) tool
    • BMC: Current Reality => Desired Future Reality
Week 4 ~ September 18 - 24, 2023

Tuesday, September 19 from 1:00-2:30pm PT

  • Optional Hybrid Lab B (online and on Zoom)
    • 1446 Market Street, San Francisco
    • Working in small groups and with Amy

Wednesday, September 20 from 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Seminar 3 (on Zoom, will be recorded)
    • Audiences, Constitutes, Customers, Funders, Gate Keepers, and Employers
    • Empathy Mapping
    • Value Proposition
Week 5 ~ September 25 - October 1

Wednesday, September 27 from 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Seminar 4 (on Zoom, will be recorded)
    • Revenue Streams
    • Promoting your work
    • Relationships/Channels
Week 6 ~ October 2 - 8, 2023

Tuesday, October 3 from 1:00-2:30pm PT

  • Optional Hybrid Lab C (online and on Zoom)
    • 1446 Market Street, San Francisco
      • Working in small groups and with Amy

Wednesday, October 4 from 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Seminar 5 (on Zoom, will be recorded)
    • Legal Business Structure
    • Business License
    • Expenses
Week 7 ~ October 9 - 15, 2023

Wednesday, October 11 from 5:30-7:00pm PT

    • Seminar 6 (on Zoom, will be recorded)
      • 3 Keys:
        • Activities
        • Partners
        • Resources
Week 8 ~ October 16 - 22, 2023

Tuesday, October 17 from 1:00-2:30pm PT

  • Optional Hybrid Lab D (online and on Zoom)
    • 1446 Market Street, San Francisco
      • Working in small groups and with Amy

Wednesday, October 18 from 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Seminar 7 (on Zoom, will be recorded)
    • Business/Career Plan: Tactics and Timeline
    • Time Management Tools
Week 9 ~ October 23 - 29, 2023

Wednesday, October 25 from 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Seminar 8 (on Zoom, will be recorded)
    • Prepare to activate your Practice, Process and Pathway
Week 10 ~ October 30 - November 3, 2023

Tuesday, October 31 from 1:00-2:30pm PT

  • Optional Hybrid Lab E (online and on Zoom)
    • 1446 Market Street, San Francisco
      • Working in small groups and with Amy

Wednesday, November 1 from 5:30-7:00pm PT

  • Activation Gathering (on Zoom, will be recorded)
    • 1446 Market Street, San Francisco
    • Gratitude Circle of Activation 
    • Certificates of Completion

Friday, November 3, 2023 by 5:00pm PT

  • Coworking Open Desks end
Meet the Instructor

Our 2022 Instructors

 

Amy Kweskin

This program is presented by Amy Kweskin, Director of Professional Development at Intersection for the Arts. Additionally, Amy is Principal of Artsightful through which she provides consulting and coaching to share insights into the business of art. Her approaches to arts strategic planning are featured in the Center for Cultural Innovation’s publication BUSINESS OF ART: AN ARTIST’S GUIDE TO PROFITABLE SELF-EMPLOYMENT (3RD EDITION). Amy is an insructor at Golden Gate University, St. Mary’s College and Oklahoma University.

Explore Accelerator Alumni

Check out the people and organizations that have invested in their growth:

 

2022 Graduates: 

  • Annah Sidigu

  • MK Chavez

  • Carmina Eliason

  • Michelle Krumland

  • Melissa Bolger

  • Antara Brahma

  • Sarah Taborga

  • Dear Queer Dancer

  • Tanja Geis

  • Jonathan Lowe

  • Caroline Nicola

  • Maria Trogolo

2021 Graduates (Arts Council Santa Cruz County, Tannery Arts Center):

  • Mohamed Aoualou

  • Misty Aoualou

  • Noelle Correia

  • Paul DeWorken

  • Monica Galvan

  • Joe Mailloux

  • Abi Mustapha

  • Irene O’Connell

  • Devi Pride

  • Rica Smith de la Luz

  • Jason Joseph Santiago Lacour

  • Jaime Sanchez

  • Asha Tobing

2020 Graduates:

  • Alejandra Ramirez

  • Alina Trowbridge

  • Anna Flurry

  • Catherine Sherman

  • Eric Garcia

  • Christian Cerrito

  • Christine Donley

  • Darcie O’Brien

  • Elizabeth Etienne

  • Liz Harvey

  • Evan Johnson

  • Franchesca Enzler

  • Gisela Insuaste

  • Ileana Tejada

  • Jamin Warren

  • Jaya Griscom

  • Jenny Bitner

  • Julie Douglas

  • Kate Cole

  • Katherine Vetne

  • Leslie Tai

  • Marcia Kailian

  • Tonya Amos

  • Midori Midori

  • Tanya Vlach

  • Rashida Chase

  • Suzy Borhan

  • sya warfield

2019 Graduates:

  • SF Urban Film Fest

  • Collective Action Studio

  • Cathy Lu

  • Anna Lisa Escobedo

  • The Collective (The Cllctve)

  • Eva Piontkowski

  • Priya Narayana

  • The Drawing Room SF

  • Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies

  • Kurt Ribak

  • Daniel Neville

  • Rapid Descent

  • ReVolt Labs

  • TECHNO-TAMALADAS

  • Vibrant Productions

  • Write Now! SF Bay

  • Rosalie Cavallaro

  • XiDao

  • Patrick Malabuyo

  • Aliencranberry Arts

  • Marcos Mion

  • Leah King & Juan Carlos Rodriguez Rivera

  • ANdrew ALBIN

2018 Graduates:

  • Klanghaus

  • Maddy Clifford

  • Celeste Chan

  • Matatu

  • Jazz Education Ensemble

  • Bay Area Dance Collective

  • The Walk Discourse

2017 Graduates:

  • Antic in a Drain

  • Chinese Whispers

  • Colored Ink/Lyrical Opposition

  • Embodiment Project

  • Emerging Arts Professionals

  • Jazz in the Neighborhood

  • Strider Patton

  • Quinan Street Project

  • SF Zine Fest

  • 3rd Space Lab Collective

2016 Graduates:

  • Irish American Crossroads Festival

  • Mi Cultura

  • Arts Ed Matters

  • Eugenie Chan Theatre Projects

  • Alphabet Rockers

  • Awesome Orchestra Collective

  • Mugwumpin

  • Real Time & Space

Interested in bringing our Accelerator

to your community?

 

Our Accelerator has been replicated at California College of the Arts (CCA), Mills College, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Arts Council Santa Cruz County and Tannery Arts Center.

Email Amy Kweskin, Director of Professional Development, at amy@theintersection.org with ideas and questions.

 

“Pushed my practice to the next level”

“The Arts Accelerator gave me the courage I needed to embrace business knowledge as a vehicle that can elevate, strengthen and push my practice to the next level. I learned alongside other visionary and incredibly talented artists, many of whom I remain in contact with. Intersection offers a support setting that understands and focuses on artist’s needs.”

Astrid Kaemmerling, The Walk Discourse