Faculty of Art
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Entrepreneurship for Arts Grad Students is a workshop series created by the Arts Amplifier and Innovation UBC that is designed to introduce entrepreneurship and pathways to self-employment to Arts graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Through interactive workshops, the support of a cohort of peers, and one-on-one mentorship meetings, you will develop the skills to translate your ideas into an initiative that you can test out and receive feedback on.
Overview of topics
In these workshops, you will learn about:
- Different kinds of business models
- Articulating your value proposition
- How to fund your venture
- Starting a business in Canada
- Aligning your values with your venture
- Developing a brand identity
- And much more!
2025 Alumni-in-Residence
Eric Franzo, our 2025 alumni-in-residence, will participate in the workshop series and offer 1:1 consultations for brainstorming and developing your business idea.
Eric Franzo holds a Master’s in Asian Pacific Policy Studies with a focus on human rights. He is the founder of Purposely, a platform that helps companies build strong team culture through employee volunteering activities and The Tea Drawer, an online tea company that sells Yaupon, the only caffeinated tea that grows natively in North America.
FAQ
We get it—"entrepreneurship" conjures all kinds of associations of competitive, Silicon-valley start-ups and ruthless capitalist-driven ventures. The term, as we've discussed before, is vexed, especially for Arts graduate students who are often trained to be critical of the increasing neoliberalization of the academy.
To dismiss entrepreneurship wholesale would also be to dismiss a long history of grassroots, small and independent businesses and social enterprises that have sought to make a difference. At the Arts Amplifier, we believe Arts graduate students have the values and vision to build these kinds of endeavours from the ground up, designed by you and aligned to your values. Read more about our guiding framework on our resources page.
At the Arts Amplifier, we think entrepreneurship offers a viable pathway after the MA or PhD. Running your own business can allow you to align your work with your personal and political values, to be compensated for your labour, and to engage in creative pursuits.
Our past participants have workshopped plans for consultancies, digital tools, venue spaces, non-profits, online shops, freelance practices, tutoring agencies—anything!
That's ok! Our workshop facilitators will guide you through the fundamentals of starting a business. They'll explain any unfamiliar terminology and are always open to questions, considerations, and discussion.
Participants who have completed the workshop series have the opportunity to connect with Innovation UBC for further pathways of support on campus and beyond.
What students have to say
“There are so many ways to put our educations to use, and Amplify Your Product or Service gives us the tools to make it a reality!” – Anonymous Participant