ArtsBuild proudly announces the selection of the inaugural 2023 class of Periscope Chattanooga: Artist Entrepreneur Training, a business development intensive created by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville that empowers working artists to see their creative practice through an entrepreneurial lens. This inaugural Chattanooga class consists of 22 artists working in an array of disciplines including visual art, fashion, music, jewelry, and more.
Artists are chosen for Periscope Chattanooga through a competitive application process and scored by a panel of community reviewers that includes leading artists, curators, musicians, and creative entrepreneurs in Chattanooga’s arts, culture and business sectors. Selected artists participate in eight weeks of entrepreneurial training followed by six months of individualized mentorship by high-caliber business mentors. The program culminates at the Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase in May, during Small Business Week, where artist entrepreneurs unveil their creative businesses to the community.
“We are excited to welcome a group of diverse artists from a variety of disciplines who all demonstrate a high potential for business success in their creative endeavors to Chattanooga’s Periscope program,” said James McKissic, President of ArtsBuild. “We are empowering artists by treating them as the small business owners they are and by equipping them with the entrepreneurial skills to build successful businesses from their art.”
The 2023 Class of Periscope Chattanooga is:
- Aaron “Cherokee” Ellison (He/Him/His) – Dance
- Ashley Gazzola (Other) – Visual & Performance Art
- Claudia Alexander (She/They) – Visual Art
- Corey Twitty (He/Him/His) – Multidisciplinary
- Cortina Jenelle Caldwell (She/Her/Hers) – Multidisciplinary
- Courtenay Cholovich (She/Her/Hers) – Drama/Public Art
- Courtney Cox (She/Her/Hers) – Fashion Textile
- Eric Kirkendoll (He/Him/His) – Music
- Jeron Devontė (He/Him/His) – Music
- Jessica Laliberte Bowman (She/Her) Dance
- Katheryn Hande (She/Her) Fashion/Textiles/Visual Art/Multidisciplinary
- Kevin Bate (He/Him/His) Drama/Theatre Performance
- Kristina Sanchez (She/Her) Visual Art/Multidisciplinary
- Laura Ter Beek (She/Her/Hers) Visual Art
- Macayela Blackhorse (She/Her/Hers) Visual Art
- Mary Ahern (She/Her/Hers) Drama/Fashion/Literary Arts/Visual Art
- Matthew Dye (He/Him/His) Visual Art
- Micah Chapman (He/Him/His) Music/Literary Art
- Sarah Mixon (They) Dance/Music
- Shasta Mignon (She/Her/Hers) Fashion/Textile/Film/Literary Arts
- Tanqueray Harper (She/They) Drama/Theater/Performance Art/Photography
- TJ Hanretta (She/Her/Hers) Multidisciplinary
Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training is a program of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville created in partnership with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Metro Arts: Nashville’s Office of Arts + Culture, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Mayor’s Office of Economic & Community Development. Periscope Chattanooga is supported by ArtsBuild donors, The Nancy Lackey Community Education Fund, The Sankofa for Civic Engagement Organization, United Way, City of Chattanooga Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Benwood Foundation, and Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union. Those interested in volunteering as a mentor or coach with Periscope should contact Monica at monica@caravantribe.com.
About ArtsBuild
Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, ArtsBuild’s mission is to build a stronger community through the arts. Founded in 1969, ArtsBuild has supported the creative future of Hamilton County by investing more than $78 million over the past 54 years in our community’s many arts organizations, funding arts integration programs for our students and teachers, and ensuring that even our most underserved populations have access to arts programming. ArtsBuild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
About the Arts & Business Council
The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville leverages and unites the unique resources of the arts and business communities to create a thriving, sustainable creative culture in Nashville. We accomplish this through six main programs: Education for the Creative Community, Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts, Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training, Arts Board Matching, Fiscal Sponsorship, and Creative Advantage, among many other resources and opportunities.
For more information, visit https://artsbuild.com/programs or contact monica@caravantribe.com.
Photo by Tiffany Bessire.