ABSTRACT
In the United States, the idea of creative economy and its importance gained attention with the publication in 2002 of The Rise of the Creative Class by urban theorist Richard Florida. That is why research and enterprise activities in the creative arts field have become so important to sustainable and emerging economies. Three major reports support this notion: “Leading the Field, A Review of the Creative Industries”, 2015 UK; “America’s Creative Economy” 2013; and “Cultural Times”, First Global Map of Cultural and Creative Industries, 2015.
This chapter provides key elements in the growth of artists and creatives of all kinds. As a start, we work through many important aspects of building a creative business, from conducting market research to gaining representation and accepting commissions. We offer hands-on experience important to both the artist and the entrepreneur. Being part of a robust arts community and participating in a meaningful way is critical to success in this area. In part, this new paradigm stems from the fact that, over the past decade, a growing number of artists are demonstrating interest in two new kinds of creative practice—entrepreneurial endeavors that blur distinctions between commercial and nonprofit work, and community-based or community-focused work with social change goals. Art is not just a luxury item or a status symbol. The arts give us the words, images, gestures, and ideas we need to talk to one another in a rapidly changing and complex world.
