Indy-based nonprofit Cultural Democracy Lab is hosting a series of free workshops for creative entrepreneurs through its Help Desk initiative.
Founded by Kat Bloomfield in 2020, Cultural Democracy Lab is an Indiana-based nonprofit that specializes in creative placemaking and building civic infrastructure through the arts. The organization is dedicated to helping artists and creative entrepreneurs from marginalized communities through its three core programs: Black Village Apprenticeship, Torch Grassroots Movement Youth Organizer Fellowship and Help Desk — which returns with a series of virtual models on Aug. 12, 19 and 26.
“Creative placemaking is one of the strongest tools that we can do, because communities of color are often not allowed to retain the economic value of the cultural capital that they produce, and so when we do retain that economic value, we create these beautiful creative districts, and we create landmark institutions,” Bloomfield said. “We’re excited to just really inspire young people to be focused on loving where they live, not leaving Indianapolis, not leaving Indiana, and doing the hard work of building this beautiful, wonderful city.”
Bloomfield created Cultural Democracy Lab, which is a David Rockefeller-funded project, in response to what they saw as an economic development specialist and professional fundraiser both in New York and Indianapolis. Creative business owners, particularly Black and brown, LGBTQ, immigrant and those with disabilities, didn’t have the same access to foundation and government monies or grant writing, and Bloomfield wanted to change that by giving local artists the “creative agility” needed to connect with civic engagement.
Over the last six years, the Cultural Democracy Lab has helped nearly 4,000 people nationwide. Creative placemaking gets people “excited about where they live,” which in turn gets them excited to participate in the democracy that protects it, Victory Sampson, program director for Cultural Democracy Lab, said.
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Help Desk, which is the organization’s flagship program, has always been based in “community listening” — which means their programming is designed in direct response to what education and resources their creative entrepreneurs are asking for, Sampson said.
“We have a vision where artists and creative entrepreneurs have the resources and the education to be able to create thriving businesses that make people so excited to live in Indiana and participate in all of the initiatives that are going on at the same time,” Sampson said. “Being able to just listen to constituents about what it is exactly that they need, and then being able to not only sort of educate them, but then also [advocate] on their behalf, has been a big part of making Help Desk for the past six years.”
The organization even received congressional appropriation for its work in 2023, which was “very fortunate” as Bloomfield said many of the people that they serve through Help Desk are women — particularly Black women, femme presenting and trans women.
“It is our deepest pleasure to be able to provide the the platform and the services that will ensure that everyone is able to, to start a business, to grow a business without gambling with their future financial well-being,” Bloomfield added.
This year’s Help Desk, which is entitled, the Money and Influence Help Desk, will feature a three-week workshop series tackling different topics — including brand awareness and identity, YouTube strategy for changemakers and influence for business growth. On Sept. 25, Help Desk will follow up with a Money and Mission Mixer at SipEasy Social Haus where representatives from different banks speak with participants.
Registering and participating in the Help Desk workshops also doubles as an application for an infrastructure grant of up to $1,000, which Bloomfield said will be carefully reviewed in January 2027 and awarded in February 2027.
“Our creative placemakers have done so much for the community, and they need to take care of themselves, so it is specifically meant to make sure that they pay themselves, to make sure that the space that they occupy — maybe they pay that rent, maybe they need communications technology or payroll … and it’s also even for rest,” Bloomfield said. “But it’s not meant for programs directly because we already know that they’re already doing so much with so little.”
The Cultural Democracy Lab team will also work closely with financial service providers to set up one-on-ones with each of their creative businesses to discuss risk management and financial services needed to develop business credit and support expanding, Bloomfield added.
The Help Desk initiative modules take place from 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 12, 19 and 26, culminating with a Money and Mission Mixer at SipEasy Social Haus on Sept. 25. The workshops are free and open to all artists and creative entrepreneurs across Indiana and beyond. For more information, or to register, visit www.blackculturalcapital.com/help-desk.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
