The Value of Ethnic Identity for Creative Entrepreneurs

Ethnic minority creatives stand at the crossroads of globalization and the rise of the knowledge economy. Yet little research has been conducted on their entrepreneurial experiences management strategies and success stories. By studying their cases we contribute to streams on ethnic entrepreneurship creative entrepreneurship and diversity. Like all entrepreneurs ethnic minority creatives are subject to influences of significant others in their field (teachers critics patrons experts journalists curators customers peers). Yet they are also as minority entrepreneurs highly visible in this majority dominated world. This double opportunity structure makes it possible to stand out with their work and to tell a unique story. Yet it also causes the possibility that their work is considered too different resulting in its classification as inferior or less relevant. By focusing on this relationship between the structure of the creative industries and the agency of individual ethnic minority creatives this book sheds light on business strategies for creatives the value of identity for creativity and is aimed at anyone studying the mechanisms of the creative industries.