Cultural Entrepreneurship in the Global North and the Global South

The study of cultural and creative entrepreneurship is a specialism of the dept. Arts Culture and Media in Groningen. The topic is normally approached from a western and economic perspective.

This summer school broadens the perspective on entrepreneurship in the arts and culture, by cooperating with students and professionals in Africa. Thus, the summer school contributes to developing new knowledge on entrepreneurship in the arts and culture by learning from the commonalities and differences of the practices in the global north and south.

The location of this summer school will be Nairobi, Kenya.

The African practice of entrepreneurship in culture and creative contexts provides perspectives that need further investigation in cooperation with professionals in the field, in order to broaden and deepen the coverage of the term.

At the same time, concerning the theoretical understanding of entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sector in Africa there is a distinct wish to develop new knowledge in combined research and education activities and develop tools for policy development.

This summer school will offer students the opportunity to learn from research results in the Global North and South on an equal basis, while the summer school will invite students to work with practitioners in order to apply and enrich theoretical insights.

Course leader

Johan Kolsteeg Olivia Cowan

Target group

This course is designed for students in cultural studies, students in business studies and students in international relations.

It is expected that the participants have a sufficient command of the English language to actively participate in the discussions and to present their own work in English.

Course aim

During this summer school you will:

1. Insight in the commonalities and differences between cultural entrepreneurial practices in the Netherlands and Kenya (as empirical cases and representatives of the global North and South) including the political and societal contexts of these practices.
2. Theorise these practices.
3. Perform independent international research on topical issues concerning the field of entrepreneurship in the context of north-south relationships.
4. Identification of strategic opportunities for cultural entrepreneurs in both the global North and South.
5. Develop the design of innovative organisational concepts informed by the theories and contexts discussed.