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Contact Us

500 W. 5th Street, Suite 800,
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-462-9429

Helping is Our Goal

We Help Build the Creative Economy

Center for Creative Economy provides programming designed to have a meaningful impact on creative businesses and entrepreneurs.

Community

We network with like minded creatives

Mentorship

We partner with experts in entrepreneurship

Instruction

We customize our curriculum

Opportunities

We create chances for success

Get To Know

More About CCE

Our Vision

To be known as a premier economic development organization that is building the creative economy and creative community in Winston-Salem, the Triad, North Carolina, and in the Southeast region.

Since 2011, we have helped launch, grow, and accelerate creative entrepreneurs and businesses. Our vision requires a focus and collaboration for success. We cannot accomplish it on our own.

What We Do

CCE provides business training designed to have a meaningful impact on creative businesses and entrepreneurs. Programming includes Velocity, Kinetic, and Pathways for Entrepreneurial Success.

Who We Help

The Center for Creative Economy provides inception-stage business training to help creatives and artists develop viable businesses. Our customized education and mentorship programs fulfill our mission to launch, accelerate, and grow creative businesses.

Economic Development

The work of the Center for Creative Economy is transforming the region’s creative cluster by focusing on programming designed for creatives to engage, connect, and spur innovation.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CCE strives to strengthen the creative economy and the creative community in Winston-Salem, NC and beyond. Since 2016 CCE has helped launch 143 creative startups, 71% of which were founded by women and 63% by minorities. Today, 78% of those companies are still thriving, and 283 jobs have been created.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Creativity is dependent on diversity. At the Center for Creative Economy, we recognize the importance of unique ideas and perspectives. As an Entrepreneurial Support Organization, CCE intentionally serves a diverse demographic of creative entrepreneurs in an inclusive and equitable manner through our programs for early-stage businesses and believes that success is built upon collaboration and inclusion. 

CCE is actively addressing the lack of entrepreneurial resources among those who identify as women, and minoritized individuals. Our programs are designed to uplift the voices of creative entrepreneurs of all abilities, disabilities, and experiences. Our programs are inclusive of, but not limited to, all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, religions, and ages. We are committed to upholding an atmosphere of inclusivity throughout our organization.

We help build the creative economy

The Center provides programming designed to have a meaningful impact on creative businesses and entrepreneurs.

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Our Brand Story

An Organization Shaped And Led By Creatives

CCE Margaret Collins has been a musician all her life. She has played trombone in wind ensemble, jazz bands and orchestra. Her journey into the world of assisting creatives began when she started managing and booking world-class musicians at ICM Artists, an international talent agency based in New York City. It was during this time that she noticed a lack of business knowledge among clients, particularly in areas such as contracts, negotiation, marketing, and public relations.

Motivated to bridge this gap and provide support for creatives and artists, Margaret envisioned a platform that would empower them to navigate the complexities of running a business and building a brand. This vision gave birth to the Center for Creative Economy (CCE), an organization that represents the essence of our cultural fabric. CCE stands for the artists, designers, and innovators who push the boundaries of their craft to create beautiful products, services, and art that enrich our daily lives.

Through CCE, creatives can align themselves with a leading organization that offers skill development, resource discovery, and mentorship connections. Our ultimate goal is to assist more creatives in launching successful businesses and equipping creatives with the necessary skills to thrive.

Verticals

Our Creative Focus

We are often asked about the creative businesses we serve. Our programs are targeted toward five creative industry sectors that encompass a variety of industries within the creative economy. We invite all those who consider themselves and their businesses to be a part of the creative community to engage with CCE’s events and programs.

CCE Fashion Apparel Textiles and Design Icon

Apparel, Fashion Textiles & Design​

Arts & Entertainment Icon Orange

Arts & Entertainment

CCE Content Creators & Digital Tools Icon Orange

Content Creators & Digital Tools

Creative Health Tech, Beauty & Wellness Icon Orange

Creative Health Tech, Beauty & Wellness

Culinary & Food Innovation Icon Orange

Culinary & Food Innovation

1430

Startups
launched

710
%

women
founded

630
%

minority
founded

780
%

still
thriving

Creative Journeys Start from The Center

We help launch, accelerate, and grow local creative entrepreneurs, businesses, and leaders.

Our Creative Economy

We Accelerate Growth

Donate Now

Create Opportunities

Our Creative Economy

How We Accelerate Growth

Unlock your creative potential with our programs designed for artists, entrepreneurs, and makers. Whether you’re looking to validate your idea, launch your startup, or scale your business, our accelerator programs – Velocity, Kinetic, and Pathways for Entrepreneurial Success – provide the support, guidance, and resources you need to reach your goals. Join our community of passionate and driven creatives today!

6-week mindset training to spark your passion for entrepreneurship

6-week bootcamp to designed to discover your customer and ignite your idea

10-week business accelerator where creatives find direction with speed

The CCE Team

We are the HUB for connecting creative people and industries to business, and business to ideas. 

The CCE Board

Executive Committee

Michael Fulks
Michael Fulks (Chair)

Akerman LLP

Jay Turner
Jay Turner (Vice Chair)

LongRun Solutions

Roberts Bass Headshot
Roberts Bass (Treasurer)

Winston Salem Partners' Roundtable

Julia Townsend
Julia Townsend (Secretary)

Kayser-Roth Corporation

Board Members

Valerie Bleza Headshot
Valerie Bleza

Knot Standard

Dawn Booker Headshot
Dawn Booker

Pack Light Global

Hayden Holliman
Hayden Holliman

Womble Bond Dickinson

Bill Knowles
Bill Knowles

Ideawrks

Dawn McGee Headshot
Dawn McGee

Coach Pro 4U

Alexia Mitchell
Alexia Mitchell

Reset and Heal Consulting

Shuyi Mo
Shuyi Mo

Infinite Film Studios

Ben Noland Headshot
Ben Noland

Impact Brands

Girish Raj Headshot
Girish Raj
Lee Thompson
Lee Thompson

LNT Consulting

Fritz Vaughan
Fritz Vaughan

Checkmate Government Solutions