Photo Credit: Bob Peck, Mountainwater Films
WNC Creative Manufacturing Kickoff Unveils Plans to Boost Creative Sector
Partners Talk New Resources in Region
August 20, 2024 | Earlier this month, WNC Creative Manufacturing kicked off in earnest, welcoming creative entrepreneurs, arts organizations, resource providers, and public officials to hear updates about phase two of the initiative. Five project partners are the driving force behind the now named Creative Business Network: Land of Sky Regional Council, Mountain BizWorks, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Center for Craft, and ArtsAVL.
The collaborative effort began officially in 2021, prompted by WNC’s long-celebrated, yet under-supported, creative sector. Seeing the unmet needs, Land of Sky gathered partners to create a focused plan in April 2021. “The Creative Manufacturing project is vital because it blends innovation with tradition, empowering our communities to harness local talents and resources in new and sustainable ways,” shared Sara Nichols, Energy and Economic Development Manager for Land of Sky. “By fostering our creative businesses and supporting small-scale manufacturing, we are not only preserving our cultural heritage but also driving economic growth, creating jobs, and ensuring that our region remains resilient and competitive in the global market.”
The collective sought and received funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Power Planning Grant and matching funding from Dogwood Health Trust (DHT) to create a sector development plan. Partnering with dynamic research firms, they conducted extensive regional research over the next months, including site visits with creative manufacturers and support partners across the region, listening sessions, surveys of creative businesses, regular meetings with a core team of local economic development professionals and creative manufacturers, and gathering stakeholders at a regional creative manufacturing summit.
Born of that research, a robust Creative Manufacturing Sector Development Plan (Bridgeway Capital and Brocade Studio) was released in fall 2022, with the Creative Manufacturing Brief Asheville Metro (Riverbird Research) following in winter 2023. The research partners shared that a strong creative manufacturing ecosystem offers businesses a combination of six support categories: Guidance, Capital, Markets, Space, Peers and Workforce. Each of their supporting recommendations is meant to bolster one or multiple of those categories.
At the kick-off event, project partners shared the five key recommendations driving phase two of the project across the expanded 26-county service area:
- Training & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Expansion
- Facilitated Growth Funding for Creative Manufacturers
- Increasing Market Access
- Shared Spaces/ Shared Equipment
- Growing the Creative Manufacturing Business Network
Each of the four implementation partners – ArtsAVL, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Cowork at Center for Craft, and Mountain BizWorks’ Craft Your Commerce Program – will target their efforts in one or more of the five key recommendations. ArtsAVL Executive Director Katie Cornell spoke to the collaborative part of the plan as key. “ArtsAVL is thrilled to work with these amazing project partners, as well as other arts councils throughout the western region through WNC Arts, to build these much needed support systems of our local creative businesses, “she said. “We are especially grateful to Land of Sky for their vision and support of the creative sector in Western North Carolina.”
With funding from ARC and DHT secured to implement the sector development plan over the next three years, partners used the kickoff to highlight current and future happenings. Mountain BizWorks’ bi-annual fall Craft Your Commerce series is currently underway, with year-round e-learning opportunities in development and ongoing financing opportunities for creative businesses. Soon, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area will launch a storytelling campaign amplifying WNC craft manufacturers nationally. A new Creative Business Network directory will use ArtsAVL’s creative portal platform for easy member access to vetted service provider profiles, Creative Business Network profiles, event and opportunity listings, and a resource hub of support materials.
Kickoff host Center for Craft unveiled its Ideation Lab during the event. It will provide resources including a fully-equipped photo studio, computer stations for graphic design and editing, and a pack-and-ship station. Erika Kofler, Director of Operations at Center for Craft, shared, “These shared workspaces not only empower local creatives and businesses but also foster collaboration and innovation, ensuring that Western North Carolina’s creative and craft manufacturing sector continues to thrive and grow.”
Over the next three years, the collective of organizations will work to boost creative manufacturing and support these important businesses in our region – both to the local economy and as job generators. Jamie Karolich, Director of Mountain BizWorks’ Craft Your Commerce program, sees the Creative Business Network as essential – thinking about the individual creatives it will bolster, too. “It’s easy to become isolated while working in our studios, focusing on our craft and growing our businesses,” she said. “We often forget to reach out for support when we need it.”
For updates on the Creative Business Network join the listserv and keep in touch.
Special thanks to the Center for Craft for hosting the kickoff event, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area for providing donated beverages from RAD Brewing, Mountain Bizworks for providing delicious food from 67 Biltmore Eatery & Catering, and ArtsAVL and Land of Sky Regional Council for providing event support.