Events › ARTrepreneurs

Crafty, artsy, and creative teens looking to start their own small business: we have the camp for you!

Join TeenHQ to bring your business from idea to sales in less than 3 months this January-March, 2026. This intensive camp will walk you through business fundamentals, pitching, target audience, cost, supply, basic branding and marketing, and sales.

Participants will participate in camp days in January and early February, have access to the TeenHQ MakerSpace to work on and create their product or service, and sell their product or service at the ARTrepreneur: Teen Craft Fair on Saturday, March 14th, 2026.

Schedule

• Camp Days: Wednesday Evenings, January 7th - February 11, 6-7:45PM

• MakerSpace Days will be some Wednesdays and Saturdays and are optional but highly encouraged.
  • Saturday, Feb 7th, 4-5:30PM
  • Saturday, Feb 14th, 4-5:30PM
  • Saturday, Feb 21st, 4-5:30PM
  • Wednesday, Feb 25th, 6-7:45PM
  • Wednesday, Mar 4th, 6-7:45PM
  • Wednesday, Mar 11th, 6-7:45PM

• ARTrepreneur: Teen Craft Fair: Saturday, March 14th, 2-5PM, at the TeenHQ Reading Room.

Requirements To Participate

• Be a current 8th grade or high school student.
• Be able to attend required Wednesday evening camp days in January and February at the downtown Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, in-person.
• Be able to attend the Craft Fair, Saturday, March 14th at the Dr. King Jr. Library’s TeenHQ.
• Willing and able to work on product/service development and assignments outside of camp days.
• Willing and able to work in groups, create presentations, express ideas, and present ideas.
• Willing and able to work hard to make your business the best it can be.
• Familiarity with Google Drive is recommended but not required.
• Pre-registration is required.

Perks

• Each business will receive $75 in seed funding to use for specific aspects of their business.
• Access to TeenHQ’s MakerSpace Resources: Sewing Machines, Green Screen, Photography Studio, 3D Printer, GlowForge, Poster Printer, Button Press, and more on sign-up days.

How To Register

• Talk with your adult caregivers to make sure you can attend all Wednesday class sessions.
• Register for the Camp using this form.
• Wait for email confirmation of your registration. 
• Registration closes on Wednesday, Dec. 31st at 3:00PM.

Fine Print

• The camp is limited to 15 attendees. A waitlist will be created as needed.
• If you have already received seed funding twice before, you are no longer able to register, BUT you’re always welcome to the Craft Fairs.
• You must attend the first camp day to guarantee a spot in the camp. If you are unable to attend, your space may be given to a waitlisted individual. First day of camp is crucial (as are all other camp days).
• Parents are included in major communication, but it is expected that the teen ARTrepreneur be the primary participant in this program and all communication should come from the teen.
• Since a majority of our meetings are less than two hours, it is very important that ARTreprenenurs are on-time to meetings.
• Timeline and deadlines are crucial to success in ARTrepreneurs. Waiting to the last minute to submit necessary materials can cause individuals to miss out on key aspects of the program.

Funding provided by the San José Public Library.

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