Having talent is no guarantee of success, and that’s particularly true for people in the creative fields.

Many a fashion designer or graphic artist has failed to make a go of his or her professional career not for lack of skill but for the business savvy that’s needed to launch and grow a company.

To help designers and musicians, graphic artists and fine artists get some of the tools they need, the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs on Saturday will host the annual Create Denver Expo.

An estimated 400 people are expected to turn out for the 30-plus workshops and expo, according to Ginger White, senior economic development specialist for the city.

She says the day is geared to everyone from emerging entrepreneurs who want to learn how to package their ideas and skills into a saleable commodity to “folks who want to turn a hobby they do in their spare time into a business.” In addition, people who are thinking about a second career or who want to reinvent what they do can benefit from what the expo offers.

In its sixth year, the day-long event gives “people some new tools that they didn’t know they’d need to think about,” so they’ll know what to do when they’re ready to write a business plan, market their art, brand their idea online and use social media to get people to notice them. Media’s role in the music community will be the subject of a workshop by The Denver Post’s music and entertainment site, heyreverb.com.

Business financing is also part of the mix, as are such nitty-gritty topics as insurance.

White says they’ve also added workshops to tell people how to work with the city on things like building codes, zoning and permits. “Often people will want to do an event in a nontraditional space but do not know the rules,” she says, adding that “planning and design for building and renovation are other areas people can use education about.”

Some 30 companies and nonprofit organizations will also have tables at the expo. “People can learn about various small-business services and programs that can help stabilize their creative enterprise and plan for the future,” White says.

Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com

Create Denver Expo

When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m. with welcoming remarks at 9:30 by Kent Rice, director of Arts & Venues for Denver.

Where: Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave.

Register: Deadline is noon Friday at bit.ly/ CDWeekExpoRSVP. Registration is $5 (optional lunch from Mad Greens is extra) and is good for an unlimited number of workshops. Registration will also be available at the door. More at denvergov.org/CreateDenver.

More events for Create Denver Week

FRIDAY 6-9:30 p.m.

• Gathering of New Pioneers. Spire Building, ninth floor, 14th & Champa streets, 6-7:30 p.m. (reception to follow)

• Frame of Mind: Curation of Visual Art Pioneers. Outdoor LED presentation, 3D Video Projection Showcase, 14th & Champa, 8:30-9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 6-10 p.m.

• Live music, fashion and performance art. 13th & Sherman, behind City O’ City & Buffalo Exchange

SUNDAY 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Community brunch, Fashion Denver Market and Handmade Alliance Crafty Ballyhoo. The Grant Humphreys Mansion, 770 Pennsylvania St.