Strategy and business development for the creative industries

We help build strategic, sure-footed and sustainable organisations and practices

Find out about our workshops and mentoring programs for leaders and fundraisers in creative organisations

Strategy and business development for the creative industries

Strategy and revenue development for creative sector organisations is our sweet spot. We advise and support leaders, boards and revenue generators in planning, executing and funding exceptional work.

Our mission is to make sure the great art and creativity in Australia is produced by strategic, sure-footed and sustainable organisations and practices.

Every thriving creative enterprise is driven by a powerful strategic vision: one that’s unique, achievable and lived and breathed by everyone. Let us show you how to develop and implement strategy so that it is front and centre of everything you do.

Your creative organisation will only reach its potential if your people do too. We can show you how to make sure you attract and hire the right staff, as well as how to harness their talents to help you achieve your creative vision, mission and strategy.

When an organisation fosters a healthy culture, people do their best work, push boundaries and go the extra mile. Let us show you how culture contributes to creativity and your creative output.

For creative organisations, sustainability comes from a steady, repeatable & reliable flow of income. We can work with you to attract, win & retain customers, clients, donors, sponsors & funders, so that you can worry more about your creative vision & less about making the next payroll.

Caroline Sharpen

Principal

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An experienced cultural sector executive, strategist, consultant & business development practitioner.

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With more than 17 years senior executive experience in cultural organisations, Caroline has developed corporate & business unit strategy placing creativity at the heart of revenue growth.

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With a MBA (MGSM) and degrees in music and musicology, Caroline understands the dual drivers of creative industries businesses.

Meet The Team

Join a Sharpen CIC workshop for in-depth training and consultation. Submit an expression of interest form below to be notified about the next group seminars, online webinars, and masterclasses. Learn More Enquire Now

The Frame Blog

How to work a room and make your donors feel special

If you’re an independent artist or small company, there are a lot of expectations to live up to at performances and events. Not only do you have to give a dazzling performance or speech, you also need to ‘work the room’ – that terrible way of describing the networking that makes guests feel welcome and important to your practice. Here are some helpful ways to get in and out of conversations, keep yourself moving and share your presence with as many guests as possible.

Why strategy fails in arts organisations

The tyranny of the urgent can destroy strategy if its not kept in check. Art must be made, tickets sold and funds raised. Here are the things to look out for and address to make sure strategy is front and centre of your organisation.

Arts fundraising and the culture of asking

When you're a fundraising professional, it’s easy to compare our philanthropic landscape to the generosity of Americans and worry that we don’t have a culture of philanthropy in Australia. While it’s true that Australia’s high net worth individuals are performing...