Social entrepreneurship: Social entrepreneurship initiatives and the cultural sector

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Social entrepreneurship initiatives and the cultural sector

If social entrepreneurs are driven not by money but by content, risk-taking, implementing innovative ideas, fulfilling social missions, could then artists be considered as a type of social entrepreneurs? Painters, actors, musicians, writers and all other cultural professionals always look beyond the usual, they create and take actions, use their imagination to make something new. It is important to outline that entrepreneurs are those who not only invent and implement an innovative idea, but bring it to an economically successful end, considering the market viability and the positive financial impact on community members.

Image: Young players at Ladywood Games,by Social Enterprise Coalition

Social entrepreneurship models based on cultural and artistic projects and activities are little explored not only in Europe, but globally. There is still a niche to look at hidden opportunities – in all areas where different disciplines meet, for example: art and technology, business and culture, media and business. These crossroads could bring researchers, cultural managers and decision-makers to new sources, new entrepreneurship ideas and new ways to build an infrastructure to support entrepreneurial initiatives within culture and civil society. The global examples of social entrepreneurship show that it is possible at the same time to successfully run a business and influence public good. Cultural researchers, art managers and artists, equipped with the power of the 21st century’s new technologies and technical innovation, and living in culturally diverse societies, still have a lot of key questions to answer. Some of them:

What forms of social entrepreneurship are addressing the specific problems that arise along with technology and globalization?
How can institutions and individual artistic expression support and sustain cultural identity, social engagement and social change?
What is “intercultural innovation” and how does it reflect on economy, business and the cultural field?
How can communities contribute to creating an entrepreneurial culture as a complex and organic phenomenon?

Characteristics of social entrepreneurship

Interview with Eva Moe, Swedish Knowledge Foundation

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