Each semester, the CCE hosts a new set of workshops, events, and hands-on experiences designed to help you explore topics and build skills in bite-sized formats outside of classes. Some are skills-focused, like learning how to pitch an idea or run a crowdfunding campaign. Others are community-driven, bringing students together with Sarasota’s broader network of entrepreneurs, makers, and creative professionals. All of them are low-commitment ways to explore what the business side of a creative career can look like for you.
Past programming has included crowdfunding workshops, pitch competitions, pop-up shops, and startup weekend intensives. New events are added each semester. Check the CCE events calendar to see what’s coming up next.
Upcoming Events
Sep 4–6 Weekend Shipyard Weekend
When: Friday, September 4–Sunday, September 6, 2026
Where: Center for the Creative Economy at Ringling College of Art and Design
What: Participants work in small teams alongside experienced mentors to develop innovative solutions to problems identified by local nonprofits. Whether they design a marketing campaign, build a product, or create a new program, each project strengthens critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership skills while forging lasting relationships that help anchor a stronger workforce and a more resilient community. Over a voyage of three days, builders, developers, creatives, and technologists gathered to collaborate, experiment, and ship real ideas into existence. Starting Friday evening, teams worked throughout the weekend—many late into the night - culminating in formal presentations on Sunday afternoon to a panel of judges. Learn more and apply at shipyardsarasota.com
Learn more and applySep 12 INDEX Children’s Books Innovative Design Workshop
When: Saturday, September 12, 1–4 pm
Where: Center for the Creative Economy at Ringling College of Art and Design (Academic Center Room 218)
What: This INDEX workshop will be a three-hour brainstorming session, where a group of students from any and all majors will work with experts from Chapter One to collaboratively discuss ways technology can be utilized to make reading more engaging for reluctant primary grade readers. Topics will include the embedding of audio, illustration, animation and video, interactive storytelling, and story personalization as well as using technology to enhance the social aspect of reading will also be considered, including synchronous and asynchronous mechanisms to connect students in the classroom, school, city and global community who share an interest in reading the same book
Sep 25 Info Session Lunchtime Info Session: Creative Entrepreneurship Certificate and Business Minor
When: Friday, September 25 at 11:30 am–12:15 pm
Where: Center for the Creative Economy at Ringling College of Art and Design (Academic Center Room 218)
What: Curious about the Creative Entrepreneurship Certificate or the Business of Art and Design Minor? Come learn more at this informal info session for students. You will get an overview of both programs, hear about the courses that count toward each, and have the opportunity to ask questions and speak directly with faculty about how they fit into your schedule and degree plan. Lunch will be provided.
Jan 30–31 Workshop MIT Startup Weekend Workshop
When: Saturday, January 30–Sunday, January 31, 2027
Where: Center for the Creative Economy at Ringling College of Art and Design (Academic Center Room 218)
What: This immersive two-day workshop, led by MIT professors Bob Pozen and Susan Neal, gives students from all majors and years a practical, hands-on introduction to what it takes to start something. Over the weekend, you will explore how startups begin, identify real-world problems worth solving, practice primary market research, and work through how to develop and evaluate a business model. The workshop is a resume-building credential. All materials and food are provided. Spaces are limited.
