As you can see, the revitalized C.L.A.P. is still in its infancy. While there are a lot of ideas I have been thinking about in terms of what the organization could do and how it could do it, there is still much to be done, least of which is getting the word out and getting other creative ladies involved!

The blog you see now is a beta-version of what a C.L.A.P. website could provide. I hope in the future to add more resources, especially information about starting up and running small businesses, as well as more information about the Twin Cities’ art scene and events. I would also like to profile and interview creative women in the area who are artists, musicians, crafters or business  or non-profit owners, to spread the word about their work as well as their wisdom on how to do it (so if you are one of these women and would like to be featured, please contact me!). Though it may not be local, I will also be featuring lovely ladies from other parts of the country who have advice and inspiration to share with the women in our community.

I am in the process of applying for a grant to start up a better, more user-friendly website. Not only would this website be a place for young creative women in the Twin Cities to find resources and events that support their interests, but it would also be a place to connect with other likeminded ladies. Ideally, I would love to be able to support individual profiles of women and their businesses that would allow people to access contact information and perhaps even buy their goods (sort of like etsy, but more local and a bit more personal).

Eventually, I would like to open an actual physical space that would serve not only as a storefront for selling art and creations of local women, but also as a space for meetings, classes, shows and more. I like you in NE is a model of this, but the C.L.A.P. space would be more encompassing of the whole mission of the organization, specifically in creating community.

As you can see, there are many elements that need to come into place to make C.L.A.P. a successful reality, most of which is support from creative ladies themselves! If any of this vision sounds like something you would like to get involved with, or if you have any suggestions (both in terms of the organization itself, or in terms of resources, events, tips, etc. that would be useful to creative women in the area), please contact me!

email: CLAPbeindependent at gmail dot com

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