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About us
Our mission
Our mission is to foster the growth and development of the St. Louis regional arts economy and to establish St. Louis as a regional, national, and global destination for the arts an artists.
The St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce is committed to developing a strong local arts and culture network that effectively supports local artists and markets the St. Louis region as an arts destination. We support artists and arts organizations as they build their businesses and the region into a vibrant and kinetic arts community. The St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce advocates for all genres of the arts, from drawing to dance, storytelling to theatre, fiber arts to sculpture, and all creative arts avenues in between.
Frequently called upon to assist individual artists develop their businesses, a pattern emerged: St Louis region artists needed to network better to support their businesses while growing their patron base as well as learn and implement key business practices. Thus was born the St Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce. It has four current programs
- Business Development Programs. The BDC includes an annual workshop in February, individual business mentoring opportunities and participation in Artist Mastermind Groups as well as online and in person classes.
- Annual regional indoor Holiday Arts expo Thanksgiving weekend when shoppers are looking to support small local businesses but few artists have opportunities to sell unless in a larger gallery or performance.
- Local, regional and national exhibitions and performances which brings attention to the arts in St. Louis as well as provide local artists opportunities to participate in group promotion.
- Arts as activism to bring artists to the table to utilize their skillful use of creativity to creatively use skill to address area issues.
It is estimated there are more than 19,000 artists/creatives in the St. Louis Metropolitan region actually working in a creative position. (Just in case you want to check the math). This does not include all the hobbyists and small businesses. Artists come in all abilities, sizes, ages, colors, nationalities, creeds, orientation and any other suspect class. Pablo Picasso said that every child is born an artist, the problem is how to remain one once we grow up. The Arts Chamber would add, how to survive as one once we grow up.