ABSTRACT

Over the last decade, the close relationship between culture and economy - or "the experience economy" – has risen on the agenda.  Although there is an established research field for analysing the economic impact of entrepreneurship, there is currently a limited amount of research that analyses the cultural impact and opportunity of entrepreneurship. Linking experience economy with enterprising behavior moves the term away from businesses' competitiveness and consumer behavior towards a more value-focused business in general. 

This ground-breaking book integrates entrepreneurship and empowerment into one central theme, drawing on research from both the social sciences (innovation, entrepreneurship, empowerment and activism) and the humanities (participatory culture, user-generated designs, creative networks). Enterprising Initiatives expands the definition of entrepreneurship beyond a primarily economic profit-seeking phenomenon to a broader understanding of enterprising behaviour based on an individual-opportunity nexus. Beyond social entrepreneurship, it explores a broad range of individual, collective and cooperative citizen initiatives under the umbrella of enterprising action.

This innovative approach will be of great interest to scholars in entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, cultural entrepreneurship, cultural studies, and consumer culture, as well as for policy makers in public and local government, regional development and cultural event management.

chapter 1|15 pages

Introduction

The Experience Economy: an ontological turn

part 1|64 pages

Empowered and empowering citizens

chapter 2|19 pages

Formal and informal strategies of citizens' initiatives

A powerful bonding and mobilizing force

chapter 3|22 pages

DIY urban design

Between ludic tactics and strategic planning

chapter 4|21 pages

Sandpit urbanism

part 2|54 pages

Remaking enterprises

chapter 6|16 pages

Parasites, camels, rents and fireworks

Exploring self-organization in digital cultural production

chapter 7|18 pages

Eventful events

Event-making strategies in contemporary culture

part 3|52 pages

Producing entrepreneurs

chapter 10|19 pages

The entrepreneurial illness blogger

On entrepreneurial illness communication and the transformative potential of public affect

part 4|58 pages

Framing experiences