Artist Entrepreneurs

IDEA Week is a multi-day event designed to energize and grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the South Bend-Elkhart region. It brings together aspiring and established entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and community members through a mix of workshops, keynote speakers, networking events, music, dance, and hands-on programming. The goal is to inspire new startups, connect founders with resources and mentors, and build momentum around innovation in the region.

In 2027, IDEA Week features a public session that examines how artist entrepreneurs add value to the community through creative placemaking and the development and ownership of collaborative arts-focused spaces.

Credits

South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership and IDEA Week

The South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership is a collaboration of the economic development partners from 47 smart connected communities in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. The South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership focuses on a long-term systemic approach to advance the region’s economy by aligning the efforts of various stakeholders around five key areas: educating a world-class workforce, recruiting and retaining great talent, attracting and growing new economy companies in complement to our remarkably strong manufacturing industries, promoting inclusion and sparking opportunities for minorities, and helping entrepreneurs thrive.

Discover the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership  Discover IDEA Week

Funding & Support

This is a partner program of the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial, supported with funding from the Notre Dame Arts Initiative.

This project is also made possible with funding from the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership.