creative county initiative
building capacity
ECCF is committed to creating professional development and capacity building opportunities for culture leaders and small and volunteer-run organizations to further their missions and compete in our creative economy.
our commitment
Through 2022, ECCF will invest $250,000 in capacity building training and leadership development in the critical areas of financial management; partnership development; diversity, equity, inclusion and access; marketing; and audience development.
our goals for building capacity
- Strengthen key areas for organizational sustainability and creative business development.
- Develop a new network of highly trained artists, cultural leaders, creative entrepreneurs, and designers.
- Equip creative producers with the tools to manage all aspects of the arts and culture business.
current opportunities
As trainings and workshops are scheduled, details will be posted to our ECCF events page.
past opportunities
Assets for Artists Spring 2021 Webinar Series
Assets for Artists host a series of free recovery-focused financial and business webinars. In partnership with ECCF’s Creative County Initiative, three of the workshops were only open to artists who currently reside in Essex County.
Capitalization and the Financial Health of Nonprofit Organizations
Hosted by Grantmakers in the Arts, this virtual nonprofit capitalization workshop focused on proactively managing your arts and culture organization’s financial health.
2020 free to the creative community workshop series
In early 2020, ECCF offered a series of capacity-building workshops to help artists, arts and culture organizations, and creative entrepreneurs compete in our creative economy. Learn More.
Essex County Artist Webinars for a Post-COVID World
Free crisis-focused financial & business webinars for artists. A partnership with Mass MOCA-based Assets for Artists.
- The Essentials of Digital Marketing
- Creative Practice within Virtual Communities
- Making a Plan in a Time of Uncertainty
- Online Sales for Craft Artists
ECCF’s Creative County work is powered by the contributions of our generous community.
arts and culture
news
Creative County ALAANA Grants Application Open Jan. 1
Danvers, MA --- Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) is pleased to announce a new round of grants designed to support artists who have been historically and systemically denied access to resources that empower them to create and share their work. Applications for...
Second Cohort of Arts and Culture ChangeMakers Graduate
By Michelle Xiarhos Curran There’s a certain energy that’s generated when a group of artists and creatives come together in one room to talk, share ideas and support one another. It’s contagious. It’s almost electric. It’s exactly the kind of energy that recently...
Celebrating five years of Creative County
Live performances, inspiring speakers and a $2 million funding announcement top the 2022 Essex County Arts and Culture Summit By Michelle Xiarhos Curran When the beat dropped during Ana Masacote’s high-energy salsa performance at the 2022 Essex County Arts &...
Michael Bobbitt, Dar Williams Headline Essex County Arts & Culture Summit
ECCF celebrates five years of Creative County at The Cabot on Sept. 30 Beverly, MA --- Hundreds of artists and community leaders will converge upon The Cabot on Sept. 30 to celebrate five years of the Creative County Initiative, Essex County Community Foundation’s...
ECCF Announces Next Cohort of Creative County ChangeMakers
Danvers, MA --- Essex County Community Foundation is excited to announce the second cohort of creative leaders who will participate in the foundation’s Creative County ChangeMakers program, set to begin March 28. Twelve artists, nonprofit and municipal heads will...
get in touch
Karen Ristuben
Program Director
Creative County Initiative
k.ristuben@eccf.org
community voices
“All young people should and could have access to wide-ranging, creative, and alternative learning opportunities. By increasing capacity for creative access and exposure for our young people, we are allowing for a more humanizing approach to supporting their futures; empowering them through art in its many forms. What will the world look like when we, as a species, more readily accept the importance and power of creativity?”
– Marquis Victor, Founding Executive, Director of Elevated Thought
how can we help?
We would love to hear from you.
GET IN TOUCH
- 175 Andover Street, Suite 101
Danvers, Massachusetts 01923
QUICK LINKS
ECCF's Tax ID # 04-3407816