Arts Blog

Grant Announcement |

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Awards $88,000 in State Grants to Creative Business Owners

Pittsburgh – April 30, 2025 – Forty-four Southwestern Pennsylvania creative entrepreneurs were awarded a total of $88,000 from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council to support their business’ general operations as part of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’ (PCA) Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program. Grants are used to start or operate a creative business in addition to providing access to free business consultations through local providers.

Grantees represent the diversity of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s creative economy, supporting businesses with gross revenue of less than $200,000 working in creative fields including architecture, visual arts and crafts, design, film and media, music and entertainment, and publishing.

A diverse group of people stands onstage, smiling and holding a large check for $88,000 made out to 44 Creative Entrepreneurs
A selection of creative entrepreneurs who received a $2,000 Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator grant pose during the Creative Hive at Tech25 on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. // Photo by Patrick Fisher

“It’s an honor to help support so many creative entrepreneurs doing amazing work across Southwestern Pennsylvania,” says Mona Wiley, Grantmaking Manager at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. 

Fifty-one percent of this year’s funds were distributed to Black, Indigenous, or persons of color (BIPOC), or economically disadvantaged creative entrepreneurs and those who are located in and whose work benefits low-income communities.

The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program launched in October 2021 to support economic recovery and increase opportunities for creative workers. The Arts Council administers this grant on behalf of the PA Council on the Arts for Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties. In addition to grants, all applicants receive free consultation services from local small business development organizations, including University of Pittsburgh, Chatham University, and Bridgeway Capital.

The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator awardees each received $2,000 in general operating support for their businesses. The awardees and their respective industries include:

Visual Arts + Crafts

Design

Digital Games

  • Kenneth Ramirez of Prexense Studios

Music + Entertainment

Publishing

Film & Media

###

Category

Grantmaking

About the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council builds a more resourced, connected, and informed arts sector, empowering artists and arts organizations throughout Southwestern PA. By sharing resources, fostering significant relationships, leading advocacy initiatives, and increasing public awareness of arts and culture, the Arts Council cultivates a thriving, vibrant arts community for the Greater Pittsburgh region.

For interviews with the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, image use requests, and any other media questions, please contact Director of Marketing and Communications Lisa Cunningham at lcunningham@pittsburghartscouncil.org.