Creative Entrepreneurship Program

This program is a collaboration between Berklee College of Music and MIT Connection Science. Students will have the opportunity to shift their view of themselves, learn what it means to think like an entrepreneur, and carry with them a lifelong ability to solve problems, analyze issues, and collaborate with others using their inherent creativity.

By the end of the program, students will be able to:

• exhibit necessary listening and observation skills that are central to both successful artists and innovators; 
• present ideas in thoughtful, clear ways to promote the creative process; 
• understand arts ensembles as environments for collaboration; 
• draw parallels between improvisation acts and the nimble instincts or experimentation of successful entrepreneurs; 
• understand the recording process as a metaphor for synthesizing disparate parts into a comprehensive plan; and
• view songwriting as a means of introducing the iterative and cocreation process that all ideas and products undergo, from concept to launch.

See an example of one of the final presentations.

Upon completion of the program, students will receive a joint certificate from Berklee Summer Programs and MIT Connection Science. 

During the program, you will immerse yourself in the startup and musician mindset through daily seminars with world-renowned music professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurs from the fields of technology, business, and art. You’ll be in recording studios and ensemble rooms, on concert stages, and in other environments that will demonstrate how the work of artists and creatives provides a model for entrepreneurs. Instruction will be enhanced by hands-on activities and visits to Boston-area innovation labs and organizations such as global design firm IDEO and the Museum of Fine Arts. The program will culminate with student teams pitching their final projects to a panel of top musicians, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

Still have questions? Email the BerkleeICE team for more information.

We're looking for ambitious young artists and entrepreneurs from all parts of the globe who are ready to be pioneers, leaders, and change-makers. If you love making art or being creative, are naturally curious and a great listener, like to question the status quo, work well with diverse groups of people (or want to learn how to do that), and enjoy combining disciplines in new ways, then this is the program for you.

You must be fluent in English. You don’t have to be a performer or an artist, but you'll work closely with creators as well as entrepreneurs, faculty at both schools, and other leading experts and educators in the fields of design and creativity.

1. A complete application form, including a short essay of 1,500 characters or less, responding to the following two questions: What do you hope to learn about creative entrepreneurship, communication, and leadership? What concrete skills, attitudes, or knowledge will you contribute to this program? Applicants may also provide up to three links to relevant websites, products, or services, or other examples of entrepreneurial or leadership projects in which they’ve played a major role.

2. A passport-style photo ID.

Note that in some cases, additional application materials may be requested. Additional materials may include transcripts, essays, teacher recommentions, or English language assessments.

Deadline: Applicants are admitted on a rolling basis. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2020; however, the program may fill up before that deadline, so students are encouraged to apply early.  

Notification of admission decision: Applicants will be notified of the admission decision after submission of a complete application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the review committee.

Confirming attendance with a program deposit: Accepted students must confirm their attendance by submitting a program deposit. More details will be provided upon acceptance.