Secret Knowledge

Nonprofit that helps creative people get down to business. Talent Alone Isn't Enough. Secret Knowledge was founded in 2013 by creative empowerment luminary Noah Kleiman to help creative people in Portland, Oregon grow their working livelihoods amid rapid city growth and looming gentrification.Secret Knowledge works to transform the world around us into a more equitable place where creative people from diverse backgrounds are empowered to lead fulfilling lives and succeed on their own terms.We believe that investing directly in education to support artists, musicians, and creative workers in their struggle to grow their working livelihoods is the very best way to support arts & culture in our region.For adults in Oregon creative empowerment means filling in the gaps in business education, providing economic empowerment programming targeted at creative solo entrepreneurs, changing the story of what it means to be a successful creative person to accurately represent the lives of creative workers while at the same time realistically portraying what it takes to accomplish that success, and fostering a culture of openness and mutual support for a large community of creative people suffering from feelings of scarcity, isolation, and competition. We help creative people redefine success; connect with and support one another; develop necessary entrepreneurial skills; find and access resources; and we provide the direct support creative people need most as they strive to grow their creative careers. Secret Knowledge's fundamental investment in inclusion, diversity, and equity starts with the frame we use to define who we're helping and why. We avoid talking about Artists, Musicians, Crafters, etc. because those job title identities foster exclusion. Instead we talk about creative people. And then we tell a story which includes all of the creative people in it. It goes like this:When a creative person is born they are issued a puzzle along with their natural talents. We call it The Puzzle of Your Creative Life: How can I lead a fulfilling life, where I get to use these talents I have, and still make enough money to live along the way? The way each person solves this puzzle depends on who they are; what they are willing or unwilling to do; parental support; their socio-economic background; their personality, in particular how introverted or extroverted they are; their upbringing, personal development, and feelings toward money; their current age and life priorities; education; and the constellation of racial, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious identity, and other factors which bestow privileges to some and disadvantages to others. We help people who otherwise wouldn't be empowered to, do creative work. We provide the kinds of support and education privileged people either already have or don't really require, so that people without that privilege can participate more effectively in the creative economy.