Gener8tor’s Fellowship.art Brings Startup Accelerator Model to Art
Summary
This premise is a centerpiece of Gener8tor’s recently launched program, Fellowship.art, which in essence applies the startup accelerator model—which typically provides funding, mentorship, and business connections during a short-term training session—to the visual arts world.The program, which launched with its first cohort in October in Milwaukee, is predicated on the idea that artists are entrepreneurs, and like in the traditional business or startup worlds, these creative beings need the appropriate tools and mentorships to survive and thrive.“We’ve recognized early on that creatives, artists, and musicians are in fact a classic entrepreneur that can benefit from the same type of resources and capital that startup founders do,” says program director Clare da Silva.Gener8tor launched in 2012 with programs in Milwaukee and Madison, WI, that invest in early-stage startups, help them hone their business models, and connect them with industry leaders and other potential investors.As part of the program, free use of studio space at the recently opened wellness and entrepreneurial hub Sherman Phoenix is also available to select artists for up to a year.