
10:00 - 14:00
Interactive Museum
Bansko
April 3-4, 2026
The artist as an entrepreneur
What?
Business Strategy for Creatives
Talent and inspiration are at the heart of any creative practice, but for art to be sustainable over time, it also needs structure. Without clear direction, even the strongest idea can remain unrealized or financially unsustainable.


Vihra Shopova
Vihra Shopova is a business development and coaching specialist with over 5 years of experience and the creator of the Authentic Life Design platform. She works with startup entrepreneurs and artists, helping them build strategy, confidence, and authentic positioning, building on self-awareness, business fundamentals, and design thinking.
She graduated in Media and Communications in Berlin and is a certified Design Thinking Coach at the HPI School of Design Thinking in Potsdam, Germany.
In 2023, she created a 6-month mentoring program that takes place once a year and has so far supported over 25 women in building sustainable income from their work. In October 2024, she founded the first online community in Bulgaria for women working for themselves – The Authentic Business Club, which unites over 60 ladies from different industries.
Vihra is also the creator of a podcast with over 100 episodes dedicated to life and business, "when you make your own records."
Creative Bansko Talks with
Why participate?
Why participate?
1. Clear direction instead of chaotic development
Many artists work project by project, without a long-term strategy. A business plan helps answer key questions:
-
Where do I want to be in a year?
-
What projects do I want to implement?
-
What type of audience and customers am I looking for?
Structure turns intuitive development into a conscious process.
2. Financial sustainability
Creative work is often associated with uneven income. Without planning, this leads to uncertainty and burnout. A business plan provides clarity about:
-
sources of income,
-
the real costs,
-
correct pricing,
-
the minimum necessary for sustainability.
When the numbers are clear, decisions become more calm and strategic.
3. Stronger positioning
Structure helps the artist formulate their identity.
-
What makes me different?
-
Who needs my work?
-
How do I communicate my value?
