PROVIDENCE – The R.I. State Council on the Arts and The Rhode Island Foundation announced last week that they are bringing the Assets for Artists program to Rhode Island through a partnership with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the International Institute of New England and other partners.

The program is a matched-savings program for low-income, entrepreneurial artists. It provides financial and business training, as well as grant funds to match the savings of participants, up to $2,000 for working-capital investments in their arts businesses. The deadline for Rhode Island artists to apply for participation in the program is March 22. There is no application fee or tuition cost.

According to a news release, participating artists will engage in a dynamic “boot camp” on personal finance for artists with Esther Robinson of ArtHome. That would be followed by enrollment in International Institute of New England’s Bridges to Business Program, providing artist-focused business-planning classes and additional one-on-one technical assistance.

To learn more about Rhode Island’s program and to apply, visit www.arts.ri.gov/individuals/assets-for-artists-2013.php. •