Young Innovators Shine at Second Annual Creative Futures Fair
The second annual Creative Futures Fair, hosted by the District 7 Youth Advisory Council, transformed Yerba Buena High School into a vibrant marketplace of ideas on March 22, 2025, spotlighting the impressive entrepreneurial spirit of San José's youth.
A Platform for Young Talent
This year's fair brought together an impressive array of youth-driven creativity:
- 34 youth-led businesses representing diverse entrepreneurs from across San José
- 30 talented student musicians showcasing the city's rich musical landscape
- 60 dedicated high school volunteers ensuring the event's smooth operation
- Nearly 300 community members in attendance supporting young entrepreneurs
The Creative Futures Fair has quickly established itself as one of the most anticipated youth events in San José. Now in its second successful year, the event provides young entrepreneurs with a platform to display their products, build networks, and gain real-world business experience in a supportive environment.
TeenHQ ARTrepreneurs Debuts at This Year's Fair
A significant addition to this year's vendor lineup was the participation of eight teen businesses from TeenHQ's ARTrepreneurs 2.0 Winter 2025 Cohort. For the first time, the Creative Futures Fair served as the official Pop-Up Market for this innovative library program, creating an exciting new partnership between two of the city's premier youth entrepreneurship initiatives.
TeenHQ's ARTrepreneurs is a specialized program designed specifically for 8th- 12th graders looking to transform their artistic talents and craft skills into viable small businesses. The comprehensive multi-week curriculum teaches teens the fundamental basics of entrepreneurship, including:
- Identifying social impact opportunities
- Analyzing target audiences
- Developing cohesive branding
- Creating effective promotion strategies
- Performing detailed cost analysis
- Building sustainable business models
"What makes ARTrepreneurs unique is our combination of creative development and practical business education," explained Jessica Lundin, TeenHQ librarian and program coordinator. "Each teen business in our program receives $75 in seed funding to purchase supplies for creating their products, plus a professional display board they can keep for future markets."
The March 22nd Pop-Up Market at the Creative Futures Fair marked the culmination of the Winter 2025 Cohort's journey, providing them with a real-world marketplace to test their products, marketing strategies, and customer service skills. The eight ARTrepreneurs businesses, easily identifiable by their coordinated professional displays, offered products ranging from handcrafted jewelry and custom artwork to sustainable fashion accessories.
A Proven Track Record of Success
Since its inception, the ARTrepreneurs program has demonstrated impressive results. The summer cohorts of 2023 and 2024 achieved 13.1% and 24.7% returns on investment, respectively, across all participating businesses. Program organizers anticipate similar results from this Winter 2025 group.
"While financial success is a goal, we primarily measure success by the skills and confidence gained," noted Lundin. "We encourage teens to at least break even, but what's most valuable is watching them apply their new knowledge of business fundamentals in a real marketplace setting."
The total funding for the Winter 2025 cohort was $760, covering both seed money and professional display materials for each business. This investment in youth entrepreneurship reflects the city's commitment to developing its young residents' creative and business talents.
Community Support and Leadership
Adding significance to the Creative Futures Fair, District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan and District 2 Councilmember Pamela Campos delivered inspiring speeches highlighting the importance of youth leadership and entrepreneurship in San José's ongoing development. Their presence underscored the city's commitment to nurturing the next generation of business and creative professionals.
"The Creative Futures Fair serves as a powerful platform for young innovators to display their talents, network with community leaders, and demonstrate the remarkable potential of San José's next generation," noted one of the event organizers.
Behind the Success
The District 7 Youth Advisory Council demonstrated exceptional event planning and community engagement skills in coordinating this successful fair. By meticulously collaborating with local high schools and Key Clubs, the youth organizers transformed an ambitious vision into a vibrant celebration of youth entrepreneurship and creativity.
Beyond the ARTrepreneurs cohort, participants ranged from independent teen artists selling handcrafted jewelry and custom artwork to young tech enthusiasts showcasing app prototypes and innovative digital solutions. Food entrepreneurs offered homemade treats while young fashion designers displayed original clothing lines.
Looking Ahead
The overwhelming success of this year's Creative Futures Fair, enhanced by the new partnership with TeenHQ's ARTrepreneurs program, has already generated excitement for next year's event. Plans include expanding opportunities for even more young entrepreneurs and performers to participate.
The fair exemplifies the San José Youth Commission's commitment to empowering young people and creating meaningful pathways for community impact and innovative problem-solving. Events like this play a crucial role in developing the business leaders, creative professionals, and engaged citizens of tomorrow.
For information about the TeenHQ ARTrepreneurs program, including how to join the next cohort, please visit www.sjpl.org/TeenHQ or email TeenHQ@sjlibrary.org.
To learn about next year's Creative Futures Fair, visit www.sjpl.org/YouthCommission or email YouthCommission@sanjoseca.gov.
Add a comment to: Youth Herald: Creative Futures Fair Showcases San José’s Young Entrepreneurs