Erie Arts & Culture is partnering with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to help creative entrepreneurs and their businesses. The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (CEAP) matches eligible creative entrepreneurs with free local small business consulting services and financial resources up to $2,000. Fifty-one percent of the funds available for distribution in this program will be reserved for Black, indigenous, or persons of color (BIPOC), or individuals residing in communities identified by the Small Business Administration’s low-income communities map.
Featured in this video is André Jones. André is a freelance graphic designer turned apparel designer. His athletic lifestyle is carefully counterbalanced by his lax demeanor. Such contrast is made evident through André’s creative process. He believes the creative process is a boundless journey, but he pursued that journey with the objective of finding a practical solution to complex challenges. André is the owner of Rabbit 3, a streetwear brand. Pieces from his collection have been worn by high-profile celebrities, including Lizzo, Young Dolph, Maliibu Miitch, Lil’ Nas X, and celebrity stylist Shelby Swain. R3’s style is a uniquely poetic and adventurous, exploring the limits between artistry, design, and activism. The brand draws from the still of nature as well as the hustle and bustle of the inner city, vibrant with color, texture, and messaging.