This one-day workshop provides the basic tools of creating, developing and putting together a solid creative business idea while beginning the process of constructing the accompanying business plan. Through interactive, reflective, left-brain and right-brain activities the participants get to step into the business mind frame and leave with the structure of their business more clearly defined. Takeaways: Step into the business mind frame. Build a bridge from creative professional to creative business. Clarify your business idea and direction and create the base of your business plan. Get to know your local business and creative sector supports and community. Guest speakers: TBD Facilitator: Snjezana Pruginic Snjezana Pruginic is a creative business professional and facilitator with over 10 years of experience in the creative sector as a dancer, producer, writer, community art facilitator and art manager. She is also the co-founder and facilitator of 'Business of Arts', an art entrepreneurship workshop for visual artists. 'Starting a Creative Business' is an initiative of WorkInCulture to support creative professionals of diverse artistic disciplines who are thinking about building a creative enterprise. Agenda for the day Introductions, Welcoming and Logistics Getting into the business mind frame Defining your skills, strengths and passions Finding the sweet spot (your business) Mapping your idea / business (and building the frame of the business plan) Your business vision Your business goals Business Analysis The Heart of Your Business The problem The value The purpose Who are your clients? Creating your client avatar Putting it all together (Business Plan Structure) Next Steps and Action points Your Community (including guest speakers) Workshop includes a workbook handout to prepare you for your next steps. Lunch and refreshments are courtesy of City of Kitchener. 'Starting a Creative Business - in Kitchener' is brought to you by Pat the Dog Theatre Creation. Pat the Dog Theatre Creation is an incubator for theatre makers. Our passion is to tell stories about how we live now. We seek to create and present work that will engage audiences in an exchange of ideas that makes us think harder, laugh longer, and feel more. Pat the Dog Theatre Creation is devoted to the creation and presentation of new work for the Canadian theatre. We provide and encourage community among theatre creators, providing a critical and vibrant environment for the playwright to develop their craft prior to production. We are open to theatre creators at all levels in their development and growth as artists. Pat the Dog Theatre Creation is nationally recognized as a leader in the cultivation and promotion of theatre creators and their work. Lunch sponsor: City of Kitchener Kitchener's economic development team works to attract new businesses to our city and encourage the expansion and retention of existing businesses within our community; while, simultaneously, creating the right climate for businesses to succeed through strategic investments. Kitchener's approach to economic development is focused on industry intersections; the connection or collision of distinct capabilities can be a powerful catalyst for innovation. New opportunities are found when experts in different disciplines collaborate to solve complex problems. This means that all industries have a role to play in our city's economy. Funder: An agency of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is one of Canada's largest granting foundations. With a budget of over $136 million, OTF awards grants to some 1,000 projects every year to build healthy and vibrant Ontario communities.