An exterior shot of Hamilton Hall, UArts’ administrative building.

Corzo Center

The Corzo Center for the Creative Economy helps UArts’ students, faculty, staff and alumni discover opportunities for their creative talent. The Center was formed to keep art where it belongs, central to society and an economy that requires ideas and imagination. It is guided by the belief that entrepreneurship is both a form of business innovation and a form of public and social action. It is dedicated to supporting the creative, innovative, inventive, entrepreneurial, and research talents of the University of the Arts community.

In this time of transition, the University is reimagining the role of the Corzo Center. Updates will be shared on this page once new programs are launched.

Common Field

Jessica Zawadowciz BFA '19 (Fine Arts) received funding to attend a three-day program organized by Common Field – an artist-centered network that brings together independent visual arts organizations to discuss ways to create community, share resources and exchange experiences.

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Reflective Surface

Reflective Surface is a Philadelphia based music blog that provides honest, critical feedback to local artists and bands. Founded by Jason Friedman, UArts MBET '19.

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The Bridge Magazine

The Bridge magazine was created to be the print equivalent of a long, bottomless mimosa brunch with a dozen fascinating women of all ages. We “meet” twice a year to discuss things that women actually tend to talk about; sex, menopause, telling your gyno that you’ve been sleeping around, addiction, how to make vegetables less disgusting, and your new skincare routine.

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Summer Workshops at 1401

Organized by Katherine Desimine (Dance ’19) and students in the UArts School of Dance, the Summer Workshops at 1401 provided a structured space for movement based artists to share work, receive feedback, lead and take dance classes, and create relationships in the dance field. Programs were free and held on the University of the Arts campus. The workshops included two programs.

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KidsACT

KidsACT is a musical suburban art camp where children can live life fully. KidsACT provides the opportunity to challenge children to be creative, explore and be willing to take risks by empowering and encouraging children through performing and visual arts and creative writing.

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Consultations

Effective August 22, masks are optional for all members of our community and campus visitors in all of the university’s public spaces, including during performances, special events and other community gatherings, with occasional exceptions. Learn more about UArts' COVID-19 policies and response

 

ABOUT OUR CONSULTING SERVICES
One-on-one consulting for UArts students, alumni, faculty, and staff starting or growing businesses. By appointment only. Discuss entrepreneurship ideas, strategies, and tactics with local professionals. In-person only at UArts, 211 S Broad St.

Consulting topics:

Banking
Fundraising (artistic projects and non-profits)
Legal
Marketing
Music industry
Pitching skills
Pricing
Taxes and bookkeeping
Video production
Web design

IMPORTANT NOTES 
Experts are available for other topics including strategy for established businesses, intellectual property, and more. Not sure who to meet with first or want to schedule a general information appointment? Send an email with a description of your business and question to corzocenter@uarts.edu.

Consultants' availability may vary monthly.

Cancellation and no-show policy: Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance either through the scheduler or to corzocenter@uarts.edu only. Consulting sessions may be refused if the client cancels under 24 hours and/or no-shows. An appointment is considered a no-show and we reserve the right to refuse service if the client is more than 10 minutes late.

The Corzo Center in the News

A women-driven sustainability group gives Philadelphians new ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle

Rebecca Davies (Book Arts / Printmaking '11) is a UArts grantee. Read ahead for an interview profile on local women’s groups in honor of Women’s History Month.

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Beardfest Announces 2019 Lineup: The New Deal, Ghost-Note, The Main Squeeze, More

Jeremy Savo (Music Performance '17), UArts grantee, announces the eighth annual Beardfest, officially going down June 13th–15th, in the beautiful setting of the Paradise Lakes Campground in Hammonton, New Jersey

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This Philly Student’s Gorgeous Women’s Magazine Is the Antidote to Cosmo

University of the Arts student and grantee Aubrey Fink published two issues of a gorgeous and thought-provoking magazine that aims to further unite women. Her publication, The Bridge, is chock-full of (mostly) local women’s witty, moving, and personal stories.

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University of the Arts student reimagines a more ‘authentic’ women’s magazine

Aubrey Fink, a senior design student at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, is reimagining the women’s magazine. Instead of glossy pages filled with ads for makeup, jewelry and shoes, Fink is focusing her new magazine, The Bridge, on content she says is more “authentic.” With the help of a $2,500 grant from the University of the Art’s Corzo Center Innovation Lab, Fink spent a year developing and designing the magazine, including writing many articles.

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Pittsburgh collage artist Seth Clark brings his love of deteriorated architecture to Philly

For Seth Clark, architecture served a purpose for more than just shelter. It was an artform. He could have become an architect, but instead he chose a different path: collage art. Clark’s work is currently on exhibition at South Philly’s Paradigm Gallery (a UArts grantee) in Queens Village.

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South Philly artist sheds layers in new Queen Village exhibit

For artist and South Philly resident Alex Eckman-Lawn, shoveling stratums — the actual ones and the figurative — serves as an avenue for inspiration. Alex Eckman-Lawn’s “Recessive,” uses multi-layered, hand-cut paper collages to explore survival. Portrayals of faces — some of friends, others of Greek statues — occupy the walls of Paradigm Gallery and Studio.

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After going to Business Boot Camp at the Corzo Center I am convinced that everyone with a creative project needs to get over there and “boot up” to learn about value propositions and how to pitch a project in 5 minutes or less. Teacher Angel Rodriguez makes the learning fun while at the same time imparting a ton of concise, bullet-pointed information. And the feedback he, Neil, and Todd give you on your project presentation will help you clarify what you’re doing, and why you should be doing it. Many thumbs up on this wonderful program! 

— Roberta Fallon

Before I came into the course, I did not have a game plan for my business. I had a long list which I titled "questions I need answered", which I slowly worked my way down. The Corzo Center's course taught me a different, much more efficient way of working. I came out of the course with a 6-month action plan that was actually attainable. This has increased my productivity and progress tremendously.

— Jarrod Therian

I have greatly appreciated what the Corzo Center has offered me in the past year. I have met with a few different specialists (lawyer, product designer, accountant), and each time, left with something that changed my business for the better. The entrepreneurial course challenged the way I think about and run my business. If you have an open mind, this course will surely help you sort out whether or not your idea is a business or hobby.

— Matthew Manhire