February 7th, 2012 by Ellen Miller
Cultural Entrepreneurship: An Emerging Concept?
On February 2nd a group of 20 plus thinkers and innovators gathered at Fenton’s New York office to explore the emerging concept of cultural entrepreneurship (#cultent).
The conversation followed the recent publication of this Stanford Social Innovation Review piece, in which Fenton’s Chief Change Officer Lisa Witter (@lisamwitter) and author/blogger Courtney E. Martin (@courtwrites) argue for a distinction between social and cultural entrepreneurship. They contend that social entrepreneurship refers to innovations designed to change systems and markets, while cultural entrepreneurship involves transforming hearts and minds.
Witter and Martin decided to host the event to better understand how the concept of cultural entrepreneurship resonates with various stakeholders across multiple sectors. The conversation kicked off by asking: Is it worthwhile to distinguish cultural entrepreneurship from social entrepreneurship? Is cultural entrepreneurship a useful concept?
Although opinions varied, one thing became very clear—cultural entrepreneurship is a topic that gets people talking and minds stirring.
Guests also participated in on camera interviews (soon to be released) with Witter and Martin to communicate their insights about cultural entrepreneurship.
Below are some highlights:
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Katie Orenstein (@katieorenst), founder of the Op-Ed Project and an Echoing Green Fellow, spoke about the power of labeling as a way to attract money, tools and talent. When “social entrepreneur” became an established term, the field began to attract more attention from funders, innovators and the media. It also allowed for cross-pollination by providing a common identifier for those engaged in social entrepreneurial work. As another example, popularizing the term “sexual assault” was instrumental in increasing public awareness and thus the success of prevention efforts. However, labeling can also be risky when controversy exists about the meaning of the term. Orenstein cited “human rights” and “democracy” as examples. When determining the value of a name, Orenstein posed this question: Does the term illuminate an idea in a new way that helps propel the movement forward?
Hamish Forsyth (@hamishforsyth), founder of OneLeap, believes that it does. Bringing cultural entrepreneurs into the “entrepreneurial tent” gives this community a hook into the business field, providing a greater sense of legitimacy and recognition.
WHY THE DISTINCTION MATTERS
Several guests argued that the distinction between cultural and social entrepreneurship is extremely useful in helping to convey the value and purpose of their organizations’ work. Yasmina Zaidman (@yasmina_acumen) of the Acumen Fund cited the example of the Search For The Obvious campaign, which Acumen launched to inspire people to see poverty through a solution-oriented, rather than a problem-oriented, lens. Zaidman explained that she sometimes has trouble justifying the campaign to donors who believe Acumen’s sole focus should be on social enterprise investments.
Lynn Harris (@harrislynn) agreed, classifying her work at Breakthrough as cultural entrepreneurship. As part of Breakthrough’s Bell Bajao campaign, the organization worked with Oglivy & Mather to create a series of advertisements designed to inspire a cultural shift in India around the way men and boys understand sexual violence and their role in preventing it. Marci Alboher (@heymarci), acclaimed author and Vice President at Civic Ventures, spoke about her organization’s Purpose Prize—which awards $100,000 to social innovators above the age of 60—in the context of cultural entrepreneurship. The real goal of the Purpose Prize, Alboher explained, is to shift cultural attitudes around age and innovation.
CLARITY UNLOCKS CAPITAL
While several of the cultural entrepreneurs at the table believed that the distinction would strengthen their ability to receive funding for their projects, other guests expressed some doubt. James Benedict of Kidd & Company has a background in the financial sector, and believes that members of his industry are an untapped resource when it comes to securing funding for projects with purpose. But, Benedict argued, in order to unlock capital you must create clarity.
THE PROBLEM WITH “ENTREPRENEUR”
Aaron Hurst (@Aaron_Hurst) of the Taproot Foundation brought up a different concern—he believes that by promoting the practice and concept of cultural “entrepreneurship”, we are perpetuating the Reagan-era notion that small government creates a better society. Cultural entrepreneurship takes the focus away from holding governments accountable for their actions and creating better policy.
THE WRONG DISTINCTION
Veer Gidwaney (@veergid), who founded Daily Feats, conceded that while cultural entrepreneurship might be a valuable concept for fundraising, there is a more important distinction that needs to be made. Gidwaney believes that the most important qualifier is the one that distinguishes those entrepreneurs who stand for good and seek to benefit all stakeholders, and those who do not.
Stay tuned for video highlights, which will feature these insights and more! And share your thoughts: Is cultural entrepreneurship a useful term? What are some great examples of cultural entrepreneurship that you have seen?
