From Artist to Enterprise: Organizational Structures for Artists

The idea of artists structuring their practice as an organization or enterprise was explored in a series of Focus Sessions at the recent Creative Capital Artist Retreat. Organized with independent arts consultant Laura Callanan, the “Artist to Enterprise” series included sessions on creative entrepreneurship, structures for artist-run organizations and the importance of protecting intellectual property.

Callanan led the first session, Artist as Social Entrepreneur, which questioned the definitions of social innovation and social entrepreneurship. While social innovation is often seen as existing in particular areas of the tech, business and social sectors, Callanan argues that artists, too, can be social innovators. Thinking outside these professional boundaries, artists can broaden the limits on social innovation.

More than they are bound by sector, social innovators are socially-driven, growth-focused, innovative, resourceful and accountable. We certainly think of well-known figures like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg is social innovators, but Callanan asked artists to stretch the limits a bit farther.