2026 BIPOC Maker Accelerator Application

2026 BIPOC Maker Accelerator Application

Thank you for your interest in applying for Handmade Arcade's 2026 BIPOC Maker Accelerator Program!

This application will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. Your application cannot be saved, so we recommend you prepare your answers on a saved document and then complete this application in one sitting. We recommend you review our BIPOC Maker Accelerator Application Rubric before completing your application.

Selected participants will receive:
- $1,000 business stipend toward materials, website development, etc.
- Free booth space to sell products at the 2026 Emerging Craft Market (August 29, 2026) and the 2026 Holiday Market (December 4-6, 2026)
- Event-day stipend for the Markets for transportation, parking, food, etc.
- Product photography to use for website, social media, etc.
- Extensive promotion on Handmade Arcade’s digital outlets
- Four group creative entrepreneurship workshops taught by BIPOC entrepreneurial experts
- A 1:1 hour-long consultation/coaching session with a BIPOC entrepreneurial expert
Application Deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EST)

Applicant Notifications: Second week of February

Application notifications will be sent from makers@handmadearcade.org. Handmade Arcade will send notification emails to all applicants (accepted, waitlisted, and those not accepted).

The program was piloted in 2023 in partnership with Sustainible and funded by Neighborhood Allies.
MAKER INFORMATION
Name*

First NameLast Name
Pronouns
Business Name*
Email*
example@example.com
Street Address Line 1*
Street Address Line 2
City*
State/Province*
Postal / Zip Code*
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Have you ever been a maker at a Handmade Arcade Market?*
If you have been a maker at a previous Handmade Arcade Market, please indicate how you have participated (check all that apply).

Craft CorridorStandard BoothExpanded BoothYouth MakerSponsorHands-On Handmade Arcade ArtistOther
Are you a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) maker?*

YesNo
Is your business less than five years old?*

YesNo
Do you have developed products? Please note that this program is intended for maker businesses that already have some developed products. It is not intended to help start up a new business or develop an idea into fruition.*

YesNo
Do you have an inventory of your developed products? This question will help us understand the level of assistance you are seeking throughout this program.*

Yes, I have an inventory of products.Somewhat, I have some inventory and would use the stipend to create more products.No, I have created products in the past but need to rebuild my inventory.I do not know what this means.Other
Do you prefer in-person or virtual workshops? We intend to host a mix of in-person and virtual workshops, but we want to accommodate the selected makers according to their preferences.*

In-personVirtualI am flexible, so it doesn't matterI need a mix of both in-person and virtualOther
Do you have access to technology that will allow you to attend virtual workshops?*

YesNoOther
Do you have access to transportation that will allow you to attend in-person workshops?*

YesNoOther
Please drag the boxes below to rank them in the order of your MOST URGENT to LEAST URGENT concerns for your business (1 being most urgent and 10 being least urgent.*
What are your primary goals for participating in this program?*

Increase sales at marketsGrow online salesImprove product photography and presentationStrengthen brand identity and storytellingImprove budgeting and financial planningStrengthen marketing and social media strategyBuild relationships with other creative entrepreneursIncrease visibility and reach new customersImprove production and operational efficiency
Are there are any additional business concerns or goals that you would like to share?
GUIDELINES

Makers are encouraged to view our BIPOC Maker Accelerator Rubric to understand how their applications will be evaluated.

Handmade Arcade defines a "handmade business" as follows:
- Artist(s) created the original products
- No use of mass-produced, trademarked, or licensed items in work
- No use of copyrighted designs artist(s) doesn't own in the work
- No use of purchased, downloaded, or copied images or designs in work
- At least 80% artist's original creation
Applicants who do not fit the definition of "handmade business" will not be considered.

Food and drink vendors are not eligible for this program.
I certify that my work aligns with Handmade Arcade's criteria for a "handmade business."*

YesNo
Which of the following best describes your work as a maker?*

My maker business is my main source of income.My maker business provides supplemental but necessary income.My maker business is a hobby, and I do not rely on that income to pay my bills.Other
How to describe yourself? Please check all that apply.*

MakerArtistCreative EntreprenuerCrafterOther
What artistic category do your products best fit into? *
What would you consider to be your artistic sub-category, if any?
Website
Company website, link to Etsy shop, etc.
Facebook
Please share only business-related social media pages, not personal social media accounts.
Instagram
Please share only business-related social media pages, not personal social media accounts.
Other Social Media Accounts
Please share only business-related social media pages, not personal social media accounts.
What is the price range of your products?*
What do the majority of your products sell for?*
Have you ever participated in a craft or maker fair?*

YesNo
What craft or maker fair(s) have you participated in?
APPLICATION RESPONSES
The final piece of the application is answering the following:
- What are 3-5 business goals you have for the next 12 months?
- What is your vision for your business in one year from now?
- What do you hope to get out of this program?
- Describe the products you create.
- What makes your products unique?
- Describe your creative process and how you make your products.
You can provide this additional information in a written format, voice recording, or video submission.
How would you like to answer the three questions above?*

Written FormatVoice RecordingVideo Submission
What are 3-5 business goals you have for the next 12 months? *
What is your vision for your business in one year from now? *
What do you hope to get out of this program?*
Describe the products you create. *
What makes your products unique?*
Tell us about the innovative materials you use, the creative approach to your products, why each piece is one-of-a-kind, etc.
Describe your creative process. *
Tell us about the materials, tools, skills, and techniques you use to create your products.
Describe the products you create, what makes your products unique, and the creative process you use to make your products. Please make sure you tell us about the materials you use, the creative approach to making, the tools you use, what artistic skills and techniques you use, etc.
Please share a link to a video showing us the products you create, what makes your products unique, and the creative process you use to make your products. Please make sure you tell us about the materials you use, the creative approach to making, the tools you use, what artistic skills and techniques you use, etc.
Video length must be five minutes or less. Feel free to send a link to a video file in Dropbox or Google Drive, a video on social media, a YouTube video, etc., but please make sure video permissions are public. If the jury cannot see your video submission, they will not be able to score your application.
Application Photos
GUIDELINES

Applicants must submit a minimum of three (3) and maximum of seven (7) photos. Photos must display your products through clear images and should showcase a large variety of your products. Please ensure that images are high-quality photos reflective of your brand and specific point-of-view.
- Maximum File Size: 10 mb
- Allowed File Types: jpg, png
- Photos MUST represent the work you plan to sell at our markets if accepted into the program.
- If you have a picture of your booth/table set-up from another market, you can include that in your application, but please make sure we can clearly see your products.
- Please include your business name as the image file name. Example: MyBusiness1.jpg, MyBusiness2.jpg, etc.
Applications without at least three (3) images will not be considered.
Application Photos*

Cancelof
Demographic Information (Optional)
One of Handmade Arcade's strategic plan initiatives is to diversify the makers, attendees, and contractors that participate in all of our programs and services. We invite applicants to share their demographic information so we can better understand if we are succeeding in these goals. The following demographic questions are optional, and responses will be kept private and secure.
What category best describes you? Please feel free to check all that apply.

American Indian or Alaska NativeAsian American/South Asian/AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic, Latinx or Latino, or Spanish OriginMiddle Eastern or North AfricanNative Hawaiian or Other Pacific IslanderWhite/Caucasian/EuropeanPrefer not to answerOther
What is your age range?
Are you a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community?
What is your gender?

WomanManNonbinaryAgenderPrefer not to answerOther
Are you a person with a disability (including but not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses)?
Agreements
Please review Handmade Arcade's Maker Terms & Conditions.
I have read and agree to Handmade Arcade's Maker Terms & Conditions.*

Yes
Should be Empty:

MAKER INFORMATION

APPLICATION INFORMATION

APPLICATION RESPONSES

Application Photos

Demographic Information (Optional)

Agreements