Where creatives
become
The Creative Economy Entrepreneurship Initiative (CEEI) helps artists, makers, and creative professionals turn what they love into a livelihood, through peer-led training, mentorship, and connection to the region's innovation ecosystem.
The Idea
Artists have the mindset of entrepreneurs, and they need to think like entrepreneurs and businesses.
Creativity and innovation. Risk-taking. Vision and storytelling. Empathy. Adaptability. Collaboration. A relentless focus on craft. These aren't just artistic instincts — they're the same traits that make entrepreneurs succeed. CEEI exists to make that connection visible, and to give creatives the tools to build real, sustainable businesses around their work.
Why It Matters
The Creative Economy isn't a side sector — it's an economic engine. In Placer County alone, the Arts Economic Prosperity 6 study found that the Creative Economy contributes $26.1 million to the local economy and generates more than $4 million in tax revenue.
CEEI was built to grow that impact — by helping creatives commercialize their work, connecting the Creative Economy to the region's broader innovation ecosystem, and building the next generation of entrepreneurial talent through youth programming.
What We Do
Train — Peer-led workshops that walk creatives from "hobby" to "business," covering everything from pricing your work to building a brand.
Connect — Direct lines into the region's innovation and small-business ecosystem, so creatives aren't building alone.
Showcase — Town Halls, exhibitions, and events that put creative entrepreneurs in front of the people who can champion them — business leaders, elected officials, and the community.
Grow the Pipeline — Youth-facing entrepreneurship education, delivered by working artists, that builds tomorrow's creative workforce today.
A Track Record of Turnout
Our Creative Economy Town Hall at Roseville Venture Lab brought together more than 70 city officials, elected leaders, creatives, and business owners for one conversation about what a Creative Economy workforce pipeline could look like here. That's the kind of room CEEI convenes — and keeps convening.
Our Holiday Movie Selfie Museum brought in over 1,100 people to the Roseville Venture Lab and stimulated over 265 shares on Instagram, generating a growth in use of the Roseville Venture Lab co-working space.
YEA (Youth Entrepreneurship Academy brought in 6 mentors from Rising Roseville and 20 upcoming entrepreneurs and future small business owners. Each student pitched to a Lab full of individuals.
CEEI has brought entrepreneurship training to over 560 creatives in 2025 and at the beginning of 2026, with over 13 programs, and contributing to over 42 creatives teaching over 24 entrepreneurship classes to comedians, poets, artists, Etsy shop owners, Hip Hop lovers, students/youth, seniors, veterans, women, and beyond. We have contributed to over four town halls, collecting viable information on the climate of the community, and have even brought innovation of a Holiday Movie Selfie Museum and the partnerships for our Placer County Arts Education Strategic Plan. What started at the Roseville Venture Lab has now sprouted roots at Aggie Square with the Connect Labs, and the Crocker Art Museum with an Arts in Everyday (Teachers Soiree)
Powered By Partnership
CEEI is produced by J. Ross Parrelli and made possible with support from Roseville Economic Development, Tri-Counties Bank, SBA, Auburn Teacher's Association, CLTRE, Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce, ChicoStart, GFN, 100 Black Men, Lego League, Roseville Venture Lab, Arts Council Placer County, the Placer County Film Office, the Rocklin Arts Commission, and more. Tuesday Night Market Place, Etsy, Placer County Office of Education, Aggie Square's Connect Lab, the Crocker Arts Museum, and more.
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