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The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Talent Advancement Program is returning this year.
The 10-week workforce development initiative provides emerging creatives 18 and older with hands-on career training, course work and mentorship for creative fields such as gallery arts, video production and audio engineering. Local creative professionals in corresponding fields are hired as instructors to co-curate the curriculum taught at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center. Applications for this year’s TAP, which focuses on video production career training, will open in May.
The program will contribute to the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Visit Baton Rouge’s multiyear campaign, Better in BTR, by cultivating and incubating talent in the Capital Region, says Luke St. John McKnight, chief operations officer at the Arts Council.
“It is important to attract folks who do not currently live and work in Baton Rouge,” McKnight says. “But how do you build up and foster the assets that you already have here? BRAC has a very large scope as far as their sectors, but within the creative sector, we’re glad to contribute to that mission.”
After TAP participants graduate from the training, they are added into the Arts Council’s internal roster for future work opportunities and job placement. They are also prioritized as referrals for the Arts Council’s community and private partners.
Former Arts Council CEO Renee Chatelain conceptualized TAP in 2022. The Arts Council has held TAP training sessions since 2023, with 25 total graduates. The nonprofit plans to expand the program with a second level to further advance level one graduates with professional skills like negotiating contracts and creating a digital presence.
