Name: Business of Art Forum
Start: 2025-11-15T09:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-11-15T12:00:00-06:00
Location: 232 S Wyman St

Join us on November 15 for the Business of Art Forum at Think Big!
About this Event

The Rockford Area Arts Council is proud to announce the next Business of Art Forum, taking place on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Think Big!, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting minority entrepreneurship and business development in Rockford.

The Business of Art Forum was developed in direct response to feedback gathered during the Arts Council’s quarterly Creative Round Table discussions, which provide a platform for Rockford-area creatives to share their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. Listening to this community insight, the Arts Council designed the forum to address key professional and financial topics that impact working artists and creative entrepreneurs.

This year’s forum will feature a series of dynamic panels and presentations, including:

How to Effectively and Ethically Use AI to Support Your Creative Business
Planning for Retirement, 401K, and Investment Information for Creatives
Personal Branding and Marketing for Creatives with Lauren Davis
Publishing and Online Distribution of Creative Works
Local Resources and Mentors for Creative Entrepreneurs

Last year’s forum was met with enthusiastic praise from attendees who valued the practical insights and connections made during the event. Many participants expressed a desire for more opportunities like this to help creatives thrive as business owners.

One success story from the 2024 Business of Art Forum comes from Angela Martinez, founder of The Scrap Jar, a creative reuse center in Rockford that sells fabric, art supplies, yarn, stationery, and other materials for DIY projects.

“The RAAC’s Business of Art Forum helped me see that running an art business is doable! It was so valuable to learn about all the different resources available to artists and local business owners. It was especially helpful to hear directly from the people behind those resources and ask our questions. And now, I’ve got an art shop of my own thanks in part to the inspiration and tools I found through RAAC and this forum,” said Martinez.

Building on that success, the Arts Council is excited to continue and expand the Business of Art Forum model to further empower Rockford’s creative community through collaboration, professional development, and shared resources.