Exploring Entrepreneurial Success among Creative Practitioners: The Influence of Formal Education & Self-directed Learning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-vi.304Keywords:
Entrepreneurship, Artpreneurs, Autodidact Painters, Formal art Education, Qualitative ResearchAbstract
The aim of this research is to understand the underlying success factors for artist entrepreneurs, with the main focus on artpreneurship education. A large number of successful art entrepreneurs are seen to have no formal education in arts; these self-taught artists, although successful in their domain, are less studied in the context of Pakistan. Also, those who get formal education and take it as their career choice present another interesting aspect. The theory of self-determination is used as a lens to understand motivations and success drivers of these arts entrepreneurs. Six themes were identified using inductive thematic analysis (Barun and Clark) that were grouped into six categories: Factors influencing success, Barriers to success, Determination, Motivation, Art world dynamics, and Art enthusiasts and critics. The qualitative method was used in comparative research to gather the data with semi-structured interviews from 20 artpreneurs who have formal art education and artists who are autodidacts. The study is relevant for the emerging field of art entrepreneurship, in that it places the notion of success in a context of a developing economy and moves SDT into the world of creative entrepreneurship. It also has implications for art teachers, policy makers, and emerging artists alike, as it demonstrates the importance of not only embedding entrepreneurial skills into the art education landscape but also increasing access to the art ecosystem.
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