What do you need to be creative?

In his Geniocity.com blog, Arts-Entrepreneur Resources,  Matt Charboneau takes a look this week at the steadily rising pool of resources for Northeast Ohio artists. The latest wave in that pool is something unique, but not just to the Cleveland area: The arts-project loan program launched last week by NoteWorthy Federal Credit Union may be the only one of its kind in the United States.

Matt and I are both volunteer directors on the board of NoteWorthy FCU, a nonprofit financial institution that began 50 years ago as the credit union for the Local 4 Musicians Union. It has since become independent and is in the process of broadening its mission, aiming to become the credit union for the whole arts community – local, regional and national.

NoteWorthy’s first step in that direction is the Creative Arts Project (CAP) Loan program, which offers loans of up t0 $50,000  to artists of all kinds who need capital for the tools and materials of their particular disciplines, from documentary filmmaking and ballet to death metal and graphic novels. NoteWorthy believes that many American artists need access to loans of this kind and encourages arts organizations around the U.S. to join the credit union (call 216-263-7034 to find out how), so making their employees, members, students and affilated artists eligible for NoteWorthy membership and special artist services.

The CAP loans are just NoteWorthy’s most recent service innovation for artists - the credit union plans to keep adding  new artist-oriented financial products and programs to the checking and savings accounts, credit cards and vehicle and musical-instrument loans that it already offers. All of us on the board hope that arts organizations including performing groups and companies, recording outfits, professional associations, support and advocacy institutions, schools, museums, galleries and more will find in NoteWorthy the helpful, artist-friendly and easy-to-use financial home base that they’ve always wanted. 

NoteWorthy’s getting creative so you can, too. Now: What do you need?