What is an Entrepreneur? What is a Cultural Entrepreneur? Am I an Entrepreneur or could I be considered a Cultural Entrepreneur? Well let’s start with just the entrepreneur as oppose to the cultural entrepreneur. The dictionary definition of an entrepreneur is a person who organises and manages any enterprise, esp. a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. So then what is a cultural entrepreneur, what makes a cultural entrepreneur different from a ‘normal’ entrepreneur?
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In order to look at what defines a cultural entrepreneur we need to first take a look at what we might consider are the attributes of entrepreneurs in the business world.
It is difficult to be definitive of the particular characteristics that mark out an entrepreneur. Obvious examples of entrepreneurs will spring to mind; Richard Branson, James Dyson, Anita Roddick. They have a well-defined PR and self-promotion skills that make them very visible. But what makes them, and other less well-known individuals, achieve the high levels of success and wealth. We will see that they do have certain traits and all entrepreneurs will possess some of these to a greater or lesser degree. One of their traits is that they recognise their strengths and have considerable self-confidence but also are aware of the skills that they may be short of and ensure that they acquire those skills from elsewhere. They are driven people, having clear goals and the ability to plan to achieve. They may have a brilliant idea themselves, find one or have one presented to them. Their talent is then to act as the catalyst in turning the idea into a successful venture.
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Through using a particular example, this blog entry shall address the issues of what makes a cultural entrepreneur and what characteristics define one.
Emma Pook and Adjamiba Clubwear.
Adjamiba Clubwear celebrated its 3rd birthday as a business last December, and reflected on how much the business has developed over the short time it has been up and running. The business offers “Made to Measure & Custom Made Cyber Clubwear, Cyberwear, Ravewear, Dancewear, Accessories and Fluffy Legwarmers”. Emma Pook, the Managing Director and Designer, started off working by herself and now employs three people for manufacturing and production, has a loyal voluntary promotions and web team, and works with models, photographers and club dance troupes to expand the brand.Emma is not the stereo-typical hard-nosed ruthless business woman however…here’s what some of her clients have said about her:
“She puts her customers first and is always accommodating, she involves customers in her business and is friendly and approachable yet always professional”- Kirsty
“She has compassion and the personal touch” – Annie
“She cares about her customers, and she always goes out of her way to warn people of busy times” – Chrissy
It is clear from these comments that Emma is very friendly in business and customer-focused. But does this make her entrepreneurial? Let’s see…
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Entrepreneurial Characteristics
There are many characteristics of an entrepreneur that bring together common factors helping to make them successful but there are no hard and fast rules to describe who an entrepreneur may be.
They come in many different shapes and sizes. No two entrepreneurs seem to be the same so that it is very difficult to pin down exactly who is an entrepreneur. Some are extroverts and some are introverts, some have a family history of entrepreneurs whilst others do not, some start with poverty when others begin with wealth, some are young and some are old, some are men and some are women. (Bolton & Thompson)
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Cultural Entrepreneurship Introduction
‘Cultural entrepreneurs’ have made significant contributions to not only the creative and cultural sector but in the main also to the current vitality and health of the
UK’s economic growth, thus gaining an increased amount of recognition in recent years (Wilson and Stokes 2002:37). Not only do ‘cultural entrepreneurs’ according to Leadbeater and Oakley assist in new job creation and the promotion of social cohesion they provide a new model of creative production which has been made possible through advances in technology mainly concerning the internet and the use of I.T. (Wilson and Stokes 2002:37). This sounds great but we need to grasp the concept of a cultural entrepreneur, therefore we must first understand the term entrepreneurship.
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What makes a cultural entrepreneur? First, we should clarify the characteristics of entrepreneurship. The popular press and television programmes such as Dragon’s Den usually define it as starting new business ventures. Fillis and Rentschler portray it as “creating value…by bringing together unique combinations of public and private resources to exploit economic, social or cultural opportunities” According to them, the essential capabilities of entrepreneurship are:
- innovation
- risk-taking
- pro-activeness
Cultural entrepreneurs are people who work in the creative and cultural industries and establish an enterprise focusing on media, design, music, film, fashion or other related sectors. But what distinguishes cultural entrepreneurs from the classic entrepreneurial model?
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Over the next weeks this blog will have multiple authors from the MA Media Enterprise Course. Students on the Cultural Entrepreneurship module have to write a profile about an entrepreneur.
Their posts should start appearing here very soon.
And now here’s a conference for students on the same date as the one for educators in Birmingham.
If you can get to Dundee then the Scottish Institute for Enterprise is holding a one-day event that “is a unique opportunity to hear some of the most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs of our time speak about their success, what inspires them, and share some invaluable advice.”
The keynote speaker is James Caan from Dragon’s Den and there’s a quite a list of other inspiring entrepreneurs as well.
If you’re a Scottish Student it’s a mere £6 or £15 for other students.
Date: 10am – 4.30 pm, Wednesday 12th March 2008
Venue: Caird Hall, Dundee
Contact: Evelyn Hynan
Further details from their website.
In my search for case studies for this site I attended the recent Festival of Innovation at the NEC in Birmingham. Amongst the usual university displays were many students who had taken part in the SPEED entrepreneurship programme. Specific to the West Midlands this offers students advice and financial support to set themselves up as businesses. They do this either in their final year or the year after graduation.
“SPEED offers students from any course, from glass design to mechanical engineering, or dance to business administration the opportunity to develop their business ideas whilst at University”
Over the next few weeks I’ll be profiling some of the students I met but in the meantime, if you’re in the West Midlands, you may want to get in touch with the programme to see if you can benefit:
Tel: 01902 518960
Fax: 01902 323957
Email: innovation@wbs.wlv.ac.uk
Birmingham City University, blogs, case study, research, students | Sharlene King | Friday, February 29, 2008 | 
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