Craft Lake City, located in Salt Lake City, Utah has a mission to educate, promote and inspire local artisans while elevating the creative culture of the Utah arts community through science, technology and art. They work to elevate local youth through educational programming including year-round artisan workshop series, STEM programming, the Youth Entrepreneur Program, and a Kid Row Market at their Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival. 

VentureLab’s Spark Mentorship and Materials program was used during two 4 week-long programs for students in grades 3rd through 12th. Students set SMART Goals, learned from local artisans and participated in Craft Lake City’s Kid Row at their Annual DIY Fest. Utah Afterschool Network identified Craft Lake City to lead the program at the Salt Lake City Public Library. 

Educator Impact

As students are given opportunities to share their ideas, collaborate with peers and find support from mentors in reaching their business goals – mindsets like courage, growth mindset and optimism are strengthened.

Student Impact

After the program, 93% of students responded that they are more confident in their abilities, and EVERY student reported being more interested in entrepreneurship.  Craft Lake City was provided a full report based on the data collected at the end of the program using VentureLab’s survey tools.

Unique Program Feature: Guest Artisans and Market Day Practice

Guest Artisans: Craft Lake City utilized their diverse network of local artisans by inviting one to attend the workshop each week. The artisan would share their personal entrepreneurial story, provide tips for preparing for the DIY fest and then do a craft with the students. From creating collages to mastering guacamole, these experiences provided students with opportunities to ask questions, learn new skills and grow their professional network.

Market Day Practice: Students were provided with multiple ways to prepare for Kid Row. In the workshops students prototyped their booths by drawing out their set up and then pitching their business to their peers. Each cohort participated in a “practice market” day where they were able to set up their booth and sell small amounts of inventory at the Salt Lake City Farmers Market. These experiences allowed students to take part in market research, gain feedback and make iterations before participating in the final culminating event. 

Culminating Event

Youth ended their experience by participating in Craft Lake City’s ‘Kid Row’ at their annual DIY Fest. This fest has attracted 20,000+ attendees with Kid Row. Executive Director, Angela Brown has made the Kid Row experience a priority in the festival, knowing the growth that can come from preparing and participating in the market experience. “The kids learn from a young age, you know, those mindsets of grit, of courage, of persistence and confidence that comes with building a business and learning that if they can build a business and sell at the Craft Lake City DIY Festival, they can literally do anything that they put their mind to”

Youth came early, set up their booths and then spent 4 hours selling their products, cheering each other on, and sharing their personal entrepreneurial stories. The day ended with each of the youth taking the stage and being recognized & celebrated not only for their business, but the growth, grit and courage they showed through this experience. 

About the VentureLab Spark Mentorship and Materials Program

The Spark Mentorship and Materials Program includes training, custom schedule, curriculum resources, ongoing support, and data reporting. With the Spark Program, your students work with a mentor and a framework to grow an existing business idea and their entrepreneurial mindset. They set SMART goals, mindset goals, and take actionable steps toward bringing to market or scaling their business. The adult mentor can be a formal educator, youth development professional, or member of your community.

From the first brainstorm to the final pitch, these young entrepreneurs demonstrated remarkable growth in creativity, resilience, and problem-solving—core mindsets that will serve them well beyond the classroom. We’re proud to partner with Craft Lake City and our community allies to empower students to turn ideas into action.

Do you want similar outcomes for your staff and students?

Schedule an exploratory call with Scott Mann, our Director of Education, or contact us about your needs.”