Cultural Innovation Lab at Yale

The Cultural Innovation Lab at Yale (CILY) reimagines nonprofit theaters, museums, and cultural institutions as launchpads for sustainable, mission-driven ventures. 

Developed in collaboration with the State of Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development and MOC Innovations, the Lab equips creative entrepreneurs with the training, capital access, and mentorship needed to transform artistic and cultural ideas into financially resilient ventures.

CILY addresses the historic lack of commercialization pathways for cultural intellectual property—connecting the arts to entrepreneurship, policy, and impact. By embedding artists and scholars in a purpose-built ecosystem, the Lab ensures they can participate in, shape, and benefit from the cultural and economic value they create.

Connecticut’s creative sector is a vital part of our economy, and the Cultural Innovation Lab represents an exciting new way to nurture its growth. By giving our artists, scholars, and creative entrepreneurs the same kind of support available to other industries, we are investing in both cultural vitality and economic opportunity for our state." 

— Liz Shapiro, Director of Arts, Preservation, and Museums at the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development

Program Pillars