We recently connected with Kimberly Lavon and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Summer of 2020 I earn a Masters degree in Advertising. I’m ready to take on the world then the pandemic happens. I spent a year in lockdown taking online classes, workshops, and virtual networking. I grew my knowledge even more. In the midst of that work is when the big idea came. SOLVE THE STARVING ARTIST PROBLEM. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. My business coach, Melinda Livsey is the one who led me here. I took her brand strategy bootcamp. At the end of the course I was having a hard time deciding what to do. Re-open my fine art business? Become a fulltime brand strategist? Or something else? I shared my ideas with Melinda, and that’s when she asked: “I know you had trouble getting the funds to take my course. Do you mind if I ask how you did it?” Mindlessly I replied: “I got a grant!” She didn’t know what that was so we had a conversation about it. That led to a 2 person epiphany that started my new business. Mint Maven.

It all made perfect sense. I’ve been leveraging resources others knew nothing about. If they did know about grant funding they didn’t care because the work is so intense they didn’t want to do it. Not knowing how to start or where to go for help was also a big deterrent. I’d been winning grants since 1999 but didn’t see or list it as a skill I could share. I definitely wasn’t thinking it would ultimately be the solution my creative community needed until that chat. When the gravity of what my coach uncovered finally hit me it was miraculous. Everything fell into place after that. Directions became clear. I knew exactly who I wanted to help, and how to help them too. It was great.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Ciao! I’m Kimberly Lavon, an arts advocate/nationally award-winning artist turned arts funding coach and CEO of Mint Maven. My business is on a mission to transform starving artists into wealthy creatives.

I’ve dedicated a lifetime to living and working in the creative sector. I’ve been fortunate to witness immensely positive changes for myself, my family, and my community coming from the arts. Unfortunately, I’ve also experienced firsthand the inequities that the industry perpetuates, and continue to overlook. Passion exploitation, corporate greed, and imposter syndrome have persisted unchecked for so long that they have become “normal” and sadly expected. Many creatives attempting to make a living from their work face these challenges, and eventually stop creating because of them. Enough is enough.

This industry is worth Billions and is growing on average by 14% each year. Its contribution to the US GDP surpasses that of transportation, and agriculture. In France, it is twice as high as the telecommunications sector, and seven times larger than the automobile industry. The arts have the power to transform our economy, and sustain growth! However, this can only happen if we choose to invest in the arts, and in artists. That’s why Mint Maven exists—to provide this niche community with resources, and the ongoing support that they’ve historically been deprived of. I want to raise the tide so that all of our ships rise. I want paying creatives, and well, to be so normal that it would be taboo not to. Pay them that is. I want all of us to be seen, and respected at the same level as doctors, and lawyers because we deserve it! They get paid to practice. We should too! Here’s how I’m making it happen:

1. Creative Compass: A one-size-fits-all approach to funding doesn’t work. Creatives are all unique, and require a tailored approach to achieve their goals. That’s what Creative Compass offers—a thorough audit of your arts business. We’ll have an hour long conversation, and determine the best way to secure funding for you. You’ll leave with a custom report!

2. Grant Guides: There is substantial funding available in grants specifically designated for artists, and creatives. The main challenge is knowing how to access it. Obstacles such as lack of support, difficulty finding grant opportunities, and intense competition hinder creatives from obtaining these funds. For those ready to apply, Grant Guides provide the necessary support you need to get going and stay on track. Each guide includes 30 evergreen grant listings, structured guidance, templates, and more to assist you in securing funding.

For more information about either of these services, please visit [https://www.mintmaven.co].

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Absolutely. From 2012 to 2017, I worked jobs that I hated just to earn enough money to cover the application fees required for graduate school. After years of submitting portfolios, and narratives I got a sea of rejections. That continued for 5 years until I finally received acceptance letters from all five schools I applied to. In the summer of 2018, I relocated from Michigan to Atlanta, GA to embark on my new graduate school journey. However, on my first day, I discovered that my major, fine art printmaking, was being permanently discontinued. I had to re-apply to the school, and be re-accepted to continue as a student or end up with a “dead degree.” As a result, I ended up in Advertising, which turned out to be a fortunate accident. I spent the next two years working long days, often exceeding 12 hours, attending classes, and completing homework.

When graduation day finally arrived, the pandemic had reached its peak. Filled with fear about what the future held, I moved back to my hometown in Michigan at the end of that year. I spent the year that followed in lockdown, confined to my small hometown. It was a challenging period. As the pandemic gradually subsided, it coincided with my birthday, bringing a glimmer of hope. However, unexpectedly, my beloved cat, Stella, crossed the rainbow bridge the night before my big day. Devastated by the loss, I took time to grieve, and figure out how to move forward after all the hardships I had endured. It was then that I realized I needed more education. I made the decision to enroll in a brand strategy bootcamp, where I made new friends, started a new business, and discovered my purpose. I began anew and adopted another furry companion, Sherlock, to heal my heart and honor Stella’s memory. 💚 It was a long, and daunting journey, but knowing that this chapter wouldn’t last forever kept me going. I reminded myself of that every day. Now, things are incredibly wonderful, and I am immensely grateful.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I’ve relied on scholarships, grants, art sales, and creative gigs to finance my entire creative career since childhood. This is what self made looks like! Being self-taught in fundraising since the 90s, I utilized my skills to discover a local small business incubator/grant funding opportunity that provided the necessary funds to launch my new business. Ongoing grant funding has been instrumental in sustaining my operations, while my exceptional clients keep me consistently engaged with work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mintmaven.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mintmaven.co
• Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/in/kimberlylavon
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kimberlylavon3583
• Other: https://bio.site/mintmaven.co

Image Credits
Photography by FirstLast Media LLC, and Kimberly Lavon INK ©2023