//Artists
The artist community is made up of hundreds of culture creators in the key sectors of short and feature film, documentaries, music, television, publishing, theatre, fashion, fine arts, graphic novels, computer/console gaming and new media. Wedgwood supports these artists by helping them ascertain capital, refine their business plans, and connect with mentors to receive guidance and encouragement. Wedgwood creates moments of interaction through conferences and conversations because we are firmly committed to the idea that good art flourishes within the context of community.
Apply for Funding
The Wedgwood Circle is constantly intaking deals within the culture space. If you have a project or company that you think may fit into our investment strategy, please upload your business plan to AngelSoft at the link below. Should you have any questions about the uploading process, please email scott@claphamgroup.com.
Conferences
The Wedgwood Circle’s Investor Events are the premier meeting place for angel investors, foundations, entreprenuers and artists who are using capital to invest/grant in the art and entertainment sectors. Wedgwood hosts one annual investor conference each Fall and two regional dinners per year. The Fall Investor Conference rotates between Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York City. The regional dinners provide members the opportunity to convene and converse with prominent industry insiders. While the annual investor event is open only to members and sector liaisons, every conference includes a number of optional events that incorporate cultural venues and provide opportunities for members to interact and build relationships with cultural leaders.
While Wedgwood’ Annual Investor Event is reserved for qualified investors, in 2009, Wedgwood Circle hosted its first ever Artist Program during a portion of the conference.
Investment Strategy
Wedgwood Circle will facilitate investment in companies and grant non-profits with the potential to return both broad social/cultural returns as well as economic returns. The non-profit grants will be measured solely on the basis for social/cultural returns. In general, however, the network will seek investment opportunities having:
- Potential to shape the culture broadly, rather than create products for existing niche markets in the faith community; Wedgwood investment will be for the common good;
- Strategic investment position: investment that has the potential to seed the next generation of successful culture creators;
- Long range impact: although financial return should be measured in years, social/cultural return will have to be measured in decades; Wedgwood investment will be patient investing;
- A compelling, well articulated strategy for providing both financial and social/cultural return;
- Strong management with relevant experience, a successful track record, a desire for advice and coaching and a willingness to listen;
- An exit strategy for the investors; and,
- A company valuation that fits within a predetermined risk/reward calculation for the investment.
Submission Process
Our submission process is straightforward. The first step in the process is to upload your business plan onto our secure AngelSoft website (see above). Once uploaded, you should hear back from our Chief Operating Officer within two weeks of submission whether your investment fits within Wedgwood’s investment criteria. Once approved, business plans arae published for Wedgwood Circle Members to view on AngelSoft. Wedgwood also invites several artists with high-quality investment opportunities to the Wedgwood Circle Investor Conference to pitch their deals in person. For more information, please contact our Chief Operating Officer, Scott Morgenthaler.
Community
The artist community is made up of hundreds of culture creators in the key sectors of film, music, television, publishing, theatre, fashion, fine art, graphic novels, computer/console gaming, and new media. Wedgwood supports the artists by helping them ascertain capital, refine their business plans, and connect with mentors to receive guidance and encouragement. Wedgwood creates moments of interaction through conferences and conversations because we are firmly committed to the idea that good art flourishes within the context of a community.
Visit the official Wedgwood Circle Facebook Page and Follow us on Twitter!
For more information or to join our artist network, please contact Kristin Neal, Director of Community Relations.