The creative economy significantly enhances the quality of life in Frederick and supports its vibrant business community. This fall, the Weinberg Center for the Arts launched a series of Professional Development Workshops for artists and arts nonprofits. These workshops provide essential tools, resources, and networking opportunities. The series was developed in partnership with several organizations, including the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development, the Frederick Arts Council, the Frederick County Art Association, and Give Rise Studio. Local and regional experts also contributed their insights on starting and growing creative businesses.
Workshop Topics
The Professional Development Series covered various important topics, including:
Grant writing and fundraising essentials
Best practices for nonprofit and for-profit organizations
Advertising, marketing, and social media strategies
Disaster preparedness and insurance
Partnerships, collaborations, and networking
Stephanie Chaiken, Executive Theater Manager at the Weinberg Center, explained the motivation behind the series: “We wanted to provide visual, performing, and literary artists and organizations with opportunities to improve their business skills and connect for future collaborations. Many artists were unaware of local and national resources, so we created a program to give them a taste of various topics.”
The series was shaped by feedback from a summer town hall meeting, where artists shared their needs in the creative economy.
Participants learned from organizations like the Maryland State Arts Council and LAA Community Engagement & Equity in Research at Americans for the Arts. Local experts also offered best practices to enhance business plans and marketing efforts.
“We’re excited to support collaborative efforts that strengthen Frederick’s creative economy.”
The City of Frederick oversees both the Weinberg Center for the Arts and New Spire Arts. Earlier this year, the city hired Laila Jadallah as the Manager of Arts and Culture to lead cultural activities. As part of this series, the city launched a Cultural Asset Mapping Survey to better understand the creative businesses in the area. This survey will remain open through 2024.
To participate in the survey visit: Cultural Asset Mapping.
If you need help with your creative business, contact the Department of Economic Development at 301.600.6360 or email business@cityoffrederickmd.gov for resources and support.