KC Chamber adds honor for artists, creatives to its awards lineup; emphasizing arts’ impact on economy, culture

A new award planned for the KC Chamber’s Small Business Celebration in June is expected to honor an entrepreneur who has put their artistic talent to work as a small business, said Vicky Kulikov.

Audience-goers listen to a panel on capital access during the KC Chamber’s 2023 Small Business Celebration; photo courtesy of the KC Chamber

The first-time Luminary Arts and Creative Small Business Award is set to be announced alongside four other high-profile specialty small business awards, as well as the coveted Mr. K Award/Small Business of the Year title, said Kulikov, small business director for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. 

“Artists don’t always see themselves as small business owners ; yet they are running small businesses just like the restaurant down the street or the tech company around the corner,” she explained. “We want to celebrate them and let them know that the KC Chamber and the greater business community supports them and appreciates them.”

Click here to learn more about applying for the award.

The KC Chamber sought guidance from ArtsKC, Regional Art Council, and other key arts and creative businesses and organizations to gain an understanding of how the chamber’s engagement can best serve for-profit arts and creative businesses in the region.

“Artists and creatives are a vital part of the KC business community and the region’s economy,” Kulikov said. “It’s very important to shine a light on them for being an integral part of our economy and deepening the culture of the region through their art.”

The award is open to:

• Artist-founded and/or artist-run businesses that produce original work and products, whose owner maintains individual ownership of their intellectual property;
• An individual artist business with exceptional talent and creativity, in any discipline, whose small business has shown outstanding growth, innovation and artistic influence; and
• A KC Chamber member with a profit-seeking business related to fine or creative art who is headquartered in the Kansas City metropolitan area and employs one to 250 people.

In addition to this specialty award, artists and creatives may also review the eligibility criteria and apply for the Mr. K/Small Business of the Year Award. Applications also are open for:

• Emerging Business Award
• Small Business Equity Award
• Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year
• Legacy of Kansas City Award

Click here to apply for any of these honors. The deadline for applications is March 20.

Direct questions about the Luminary Arts and Creative Small Business Award to Kulikov at kulikov@kcchamber.com

A one-hour virtual Small Business Application Workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 5. The event is set to feature KC Chamber officials and a panel of past winners, Top 10 recipients and judges.

Click here to register or learn more about the application workshop.

The KC Chamber Small Business Celebration has been a business community mainstay for more than 35 years and is recognized as one of the largest Chamber small business celebrations in the United States.

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