Marshall County Artrepreneurship Program now accepting 2026 applicants

Applications are now open for the Marshall County Artrepreneurship Program (MCAP), an eight-week business training initiative designed for visual artists who want to launch or grow sustainable creative businesses. The program will run from February through April 2026 at the Heartland Art Center in Plymouth and is offered at no cost to participants.

MCAP is a partnership between the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation, the Heartland Art Center, and the Indiana Small Business Development Center, supported by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s 2025 Community Collaboration Funding. The program draws on research from the Indiana Arts Commission’s Artist Needs Assessment and interviews with local and regional artists, ensuring the curriculum reflects real needs in the regional creative economy.

Over the course of eight weeks, participants will meet on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. to explore business fundamentals, financial management, and marketing strategies tailored to artists. The cohort model provides peer support, networking opportunities, and individualized business advising through ISBDC. Participants will also take part in a culminating exhibition at the Heartland Art Center and will receive a $200 mini-grant to support their business goals.

The program is open to visual artists living in Marshall, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Starke, Pulaski, Fulton, or Kosciusko counties who work in 2D or 3D media, including visual arts and fine crafts. All artwork must be original, and no prior business experience is required.

Applicants will complete a short online form and submit a portfolio of 3–5 images representing work they currently sell or plan to sell. Applications continue through Dec. 8, and full details and the application are available at heartlandartcenter.org.