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Business Resources for Creatives & Entrepreneurs

The following resources for artists and entrepreneurs have been compiled to help them take the next step, turning their creative endeavors into businesses and/or equipping their current business operations with what they need to continue to thrive.

The Case for Creative Entrepreneurialism as Business

Creative entrepreneurs — artists, designers, performers, makers, and cultural innovators — are business owners who generate revenue, employ workers, pay taxes, and strengthen local and state economies. As one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S., the creative economy drives innovation, tourism, and place-based development, making communities more vibrant and competitive and making regions more attractive to employers and residents alike.

Recognizing creative enterprises as legitimate businesses ensures them access to the same tools as other small enterprises — capital, loans, training, tax incentives, and procurement opportunities — empowering them to thrive, expand, and fully contribute to economic vitality and resilience across Massachusetts.

To Our Creative Entrepreneurs

As a proud member of “Team Massachusetts” and in partnership with the Executive Office of Economic Development’s Business Front Door program, Mass Cultural Council supports creative entrepreneurs in starting, growing, or relocating their businesses in the Commonwealth.

Artists, designers, makers, performers, and cultural innovators can access state and local resources offering business development workshops, mentorship, technical assistance, and financing to help transform creative work into sustainable enterprises. These programs provide guidance on marketing, planning, funding, and finding workspace while connecting creatives to networks of peers, partners, and opportunities for long-term growth.

This list is not meant to be exhaustive. We encourage you to explore the opportunities that are most beneficial to you and your business.

Mass Cultural Council’s Funding Opportunities

Professional Development & Trainings

Arts & Business Council – VLA
Serves MA and CT based individual artists, arts nonprofits, and other arts and cultural organizations in civil, non-criminal legal matters.

Assets for Artists
Provides professional development workshops, coaching, capacity-building cohorts, community building, and more.

E for All (Entrepreneurship for All)’s Business Accelerator
Gives aspiring entrepreneurs the tools, training, and support they need to succeed. Includes 12 weeks of business training, peer support teams, mentorship, office hours, and research.

Mass Art’s Creative Economy Business Resources
Creative economy focused minor, events, and workshops, offered through the Dept. of Business of Creative Industries, and many co-presented by Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Harvard Ed Portal.

Mass Founders Network
Entrepreneur support organizations by location, service, and industry.

MassArt Pathways to Business & Creative Entrepreneurship
Accessible business education for creatives through online workshops, hands-on electives, and intensive incubator programs, empowering artists and designers to navigate the business side of their practice with confidence and clarity.

MIT Open Learning
Free online courses for entrepreneurs and innovators to learn about technology, business strategy, leadership development, and more.

From Incorporation to Space Location

Artists’ Practice – Arts & Business Council
Through fellowship programs, they help artists and creative entrepreneurs grow their artistic practices and businesses. Through direct services, coaching, workshops, and investment, they help “solopreneurs” set and meet their unique goals.

Arts & Culture Accessibility Hub – Open Door Arts
Free, easy-to-use online platform that provides information, tools, training, and resources to support improving access across the cultural sector of the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts Office of Business Development
Assists businesses that are relocating or expanding in Massachusetts with a focus on job creation and retention as well as capital investment.

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network – UMass Amherst
Provides no-cost, confidential business advising, technical assistance, and training programs to prospective and existing small and mid-sized businesses throughout the Commonwealth.

PESTLE Analysis
A self-initiated tool that examines how political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental external factors affect a business or an organization.

SCORE
Business training for entrepreneurs to learn the latest best practices and strategies for marketing, finance, operations, and management.

Starting a Business in Massachusetts Guide
General guidance for starting a business includes business structures and certificates, corporation and tax information, and post-startup resources.

Business on Board – Arts & Business Council
Provides board service training and board development consulting resources for executives.

Commonwealth Corporation
Fosters workforce equity by delivering innovative and collaborative professional development solutions that help diverse communities and employers succeed and developing training pipelines to meet the skill needs of business in high demand occupations.

Career Technical Initiative Planning Grant
Employment Program for Young Adults with Disabilities
Workforce Training Fund Program: Express/General/Bridge/Technical Assistance
- Watch their Workforce Training Fund Webinar (August 2025) with MassMEP & AIM HR Solutions.
Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund: Donnelly Success Grant

Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program
For projects and programming located within eligible communities that entail community-driven responses to community-defined economic opportunities, and that build leadership, collaboration, and capacity at the local level.

Community Workforce Partnerships Grant
A competitive workforce development grant program that funds community-driven responses to community-defined economic opportunities.

Mass Broadband Institute
Make affordable high-speed internet available to all homes, businesses, schools, libraries, medical facilities, government offices, and other public places across the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts Center for Employee Ownership
Provides information and resources on employee ownership, promoting the benefits of employee involvement and ownership in businesses and expanding and enhancing employee ownership opportunities.

Small Business Strong – Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Proud to advocate for and empower small and micro-businesses, providing the connections and support they need to succeed through their First Call Program (FREE of charge to small businesses, including cultural organizations.), resource hub, and events.

Working Capital– Mass Development’s Growth Capital Division
Offers a range of options to help small business owners in need of additional working capital for payroll, inventory, software subscriptions, utilities, and more.

Business Builds Capital Grant Program
A competitive funding initiative to support business expansion and private investment in the state, providing capital reimbursement grants to businesses that are expanding operations, relocating to, or creating jobs in Massachusetts.

Creative Space – Arts & Business Council
Approaching the creative space crisis in the Greater Boston cultural ecosystem through an equity and systems change approach.

Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) Grants
Committed to supporting local businesses and nonprofits throughout Massachusetts to promote the Commonwealth as a year-round tourism destination. Funding programs include:

Destination Development Capital Grants
Massachusetts 250 Grants
Regional Tourism Council Grants

Rural Development Fund
Funds capital projects exclusively for qualifying rural and small towns, including the construction, modernization, or major repair of physical infrastructure; the acquisition of property or interests in property; the purchase of long-lived equipment; or feasibility, engineering or schematic designs for capital projects.

Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program
Seeks to make capital grants to nonprofit organizations to purchase, repair and/or improve facilities for social enterprises that target individuals facing significant barriers to employment.

SSBCI Loans and Guarantees – Mass Development
Provides loans and guarantees funded through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) to support business investment. Their SSBCI program has a particular focus on businesses owned and controlled by Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI).

State Small Business Credit Initiative – Mass Development
Provides loans and guarantees funded through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) to support business investment.

TDI Equity Investment Program – MassDevelopment
Support properties with potential to spur transformative development in and around a TDI district.

Underutilized Properties Program – Mass Development
Funds projects that will improve, rehabilitate, or redevelop blighted, abandoned, vacant, or underutilized properties.

UpNext
By connecting brands to spaces and spaces to shoppers, they cultivate pop-up shop ecosystems that empower local economies.

Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) Programs and Grants – Business and Innovation
Focuses on competitiveness and offers dedicated supports for small businesses.

Mass Office of Business Development’s Funding & Resources
Whether you’re starting, growing, or scaling your business, they are here to assist you every step of the way. Learn about the tools and information available through the state to help your business succeed.

Regional Tourism Councils
Each of the 16 tourism regions in MA is marketed by a Regional Tourism Council (RTC), a nonprofit, membership-based organization. RTCs develop regional advertising, public relations, brochures, and other marketing initiatives throughout the year.

Signage & Facade/Commercial Facade/Facade Improvement Programs
Offered by most municipalities through their Community, Planning, or Economic Development Office, these programs provide technical and/or financial assistance to eligible property owners and commercial businesses to erect or repair signs, install lighting, enhance facade features, etc.

Small Business Resource Directory – MassDevelopment
A statewide guide created for small businesses in search of support. Whether you’re writing a business plan, sharpening your marketing strategy, managing finances, navigating local permits, or seeking access to capital, their network of nonprofit partners is here to help.

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Rural Development: Business Programs
Provides financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth:

US Small Business Administration (MA)’s Loans & Resources

Watch Mass Cultural Council’s Spotlight Series with the Small Business Administration, the Center for Women & Enterprise, SCORE Boston, and the Mass Small Business Development Center talk about resources, funding, and training that is available to small business. Learn more about what’s available to you and how to engage with these experts who can help your business grow.

“Useful Links” for Artists and Organizations showcases select funding opportunities, services, and resources.
Artist Space Resources offers space-related classifieds, venue rental listings, and help on developing new spaces.
HireCulture.org is a free, searchable database of creative employment opportunities throughout Massachusetts.
Artist Opportunities is a way to find your next contest, artist residency, call to artists, publication, and more. New round-ups are published weekly.
Opportunities & Resources for Organizations is a monthly round-up of grants, technical assistance resources, and opportunities for cultural organizations.
CreativeGround.org is where you can connect with the region’s artists, creatives, culture bearers, arts and culture organizations and creative businesses.

The Business Front Door

The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Executive Office of Economic Development are excited to partner with you as you look to start, scale or grow your business in Massachusetts. Whether you are a well-established business in the state or considering moving and/or starting a business here, the Business Front Door is the state’s newest platform to ensure that you receive the most up to date and relevant information about the state’s resources for businesses.

Visit Mass.gov’s Business Front Door

If you are aware of resources that should be on this list, please share them with us.