The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Opens Applications for the Commonwealth’s Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program

October 11, 2021 (PHILADELPHIA, PA) – Today, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (“Cultural Alliance”), the re-granting administrator for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) in the 5-county Philadelphia region, announced the availability of the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (“the Program”), which matches eligible creative entrepreneurs with existing, free, local, small business consulting services and financial resources up to $2,000 to help them grow their businesses, audiences, and revenue.

The Program is open to all eligible applicants but is designed to prioritize investments in socially or economically disadvantaged creative entrepreneurs and those who are located in – and whose work benefits – low-income communities, as defined by the Small Business Administration. Funds from the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program must support business formation or development. Eligible uses of these grants include but are not limited to research and development, purchase of supplies and equipment, and professional and business development fees. Applications to the Program will be accepted on a rolling basis. 

“The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program is an important new avenue for driving growth within the creative economy,” said Priscilla M. Luce, Interim President and CEO of the Cultural Alliance. “Creative entrepreneurs are essential to economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and future economic growth.  By investing in entrepreneurs within our local communities, we can bolster innovation within the sector, elevate the vital work of arts and culture, and ultimately, strengthen the 5-county Philadelphia region as a great place to work, live and visit. The Cultural Alliance looks forward to supporting this program on behalf of the Commonwealth.”

To be eligible for the Program, applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age and a current resident of Pennsylvania for at least one year.
• If a business already exists, it must have annual gross revenue less than $200,000.
• And be a creative entrepreneur intending to form a business or operating a business in Pennsylvania within one or more of the following creative industry areas: marketing; architecture; visual arts and crafts; design; film and media; digital games; music and entertainment; and publishing.

The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program is funded by the PCA, a state agency under the Office of the Governor, and administered regionally by Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), PCA’s statewide network of re-granting partners. The Cultural Alliance serves as the PCA’s PPA partner organization for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

For more information regarding the Cultural Alliance, please visit www.philaculture.org. Details regarding the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program can be found here.

About Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Established in 1972, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is the region’s leading arts and cultural advocacy, research, and marketing organization. Our mission is to “lead, strengthen and amplify the voices of a cultural community that ignites creativity, inspires people and is essential for a healthy region.” Our membership includes more than 450 organizations ranging from museums and dance companies to community art centers, historic sites, music ensembles and zoos. For more information on the Cultural Alliance, please visit www.philaculture.org.