CREATIVE START-UP – A free online business course launched for new and existing creatives in post pandemic wake
Social enterprise Creative Plus Business is set to launch Creative Start-up — a free online course designed to help new and existing creative practitioners build their businesses after the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Creative Start-Up is a free online program specifically designed for creative professionals who have graduated into the new creative economy, are rebuilding their professional practice, or are hoping to start a business and make the most of the freelance economy. Developed by Creative Plus Business, the program has been partly funded by the AMP Tomorrow Fund through the Tomorrow Makers program.
“In 2018, the arts and creative sector contributed A$111.7 billion to Australia’s economy, or around 6.4% of GDP. For context, the aviation industry contributed A$18.42 billion to the economy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 53% of the creative industry became ‘non-functional’, and around 75% of arts and entertainment workers lost their jobs” said Monica Davidson, Director of Creative Plus Business and lead facilitator.
“Creative Start-Up will not only help new creatives to start their own businesses, it will also re-energise and inspire existing ones to revamp their professional practice and take advantage of what we hope will be a revitalised creative industry.”
The self-paced course consists of four major units – Business Basics, Money Management, Marketing and a ‘Day In The Life’ of a creative business, which spotlights lived experiences with creative professionals. Performer Chika Ikogwe, artist Jeff McCann, cabaret performer Queenie van de Zandt and creator Travis De Vries have contributed to the unit, each answering one simple yet surprisingly complex question – “What do you wish you’d known when you were first starting out?”
“Creative Start-Up is a friendly and practical introduction to the scary and sometimes unpleasant world of ‘business’. We take a fun and down-to-earth approach to the basics of setting up as a freelancer, and it will help anyone interested in being a professional creative, whether new or already established, to get up on their professional feet quickly and confidently,” said Davidson.
Monica Davidson is Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor and has been aiding creative practitioners develop their business skills for over twenty years. National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australian Institute of Management, National Association for the Visual Arts, Australian Film Television and Radio School, metropolitan and regional councils and peak arts bodies and guilds are among the organisations who have called upon Davidson’s expertise.
“In the thousands of hours that we’ve spent teaching and advising our clients, we’ve noticed a knowledge gap: the foundations of best practice in business.” says Davidson.
Creative Start-Up launches on Monday 14th March 2022 and will be free for the first six months of its release.
Course Launch: Monday 14 March 2022
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