Faculty of Art
When I asked a friend recently what came to mind when hearing the word “entrepreneurship,” her exact words in response were: “A dudebro. At a Ted Talk. Saying insufferable BS”, a Six(ish)-Word Poem. Truly, what does entrepreneurship even mean outside of this image it invariably summons (something, something, signified, signifier)? This image and the ethos we might associate with entrepreneurship feels icky; and yet, in our late-stage capitalist world, nothing seems to escape this transition to neoliberal ideology. The tapping of diverse hidden markets, seeking excellence and relevance, managing stakeholders, devising strategic plans… somehow the contemporary university has become just another dudebro.
But, what if rethinking “entrepreneurship” more expansively might be one way we can start reorienting ourselves in service of a social good, or doing imaginative, creative work, or building networks of like-minded scholars/doers–now on our own terms?
In the few years since the Arts Amplifier’s inception, we have sought to persuade Arts graduate students that entrepreneurship can be a viable path, whether it be because of the shared grit needed both to finish an Arts graduate degree and to start an entrepreneurial venture, or the way entrepreneurship is already being rethought as something that could be more than just one more evil manifestation of colonialism. Indeed, there have been studies done on the decolonial potentialities of entrepreneurship (although, of course, it is difficult to ignore the pitfalls that come with trying to resist from within a system). Becoming an “entrepreneur” does not necessarily mean betrayal or selling out, but rather exploring another path—perhaps like digital, public, or applied humanities by a different name—creating ways of disrupting colonial structures, developing more ethical community-engaged approaches to knowledge production, exploring new entanglements with different perspectives and epistemologies. It might also just be a way of creating a job for yourself when there seems to be nothing else.
If you indeed cannot come up with a product that can help with “reclaiming cultural heritage” or if “challeng[ing] the hegemony of Western capitalist models of economic development” (to cite the aforementioned study) feels like too lofty a goal, it is still possible to use your academic skills to work towards a mode of economic being that does not fall back on the stereotypical soul-sucking 9-5 corporate job. In fact, you might find in an entrepreneurial venture a career that is as fulfilling as any tenure track job, teaching position, or research fellowship. For examples, as Arts grad students, entrepreneurship can look like a consultancy, in which you help artists and academics with grant writing. It can look like a platform where you help build teams through volunteerism in local causes. It can be working at the intersection between social justice and sustainability. Entrepreneurship can take many forms, depending on how you deploy it.
Whether you are still skeptical or are ready to get started, come brainstorm with us during the Winter 2025 Workshop series, Entrepreneurship for Arts Graduate Students (more info coming soon!). And if you want to learn more, join us on November 21 to hear from Arts students who have already taken steps towards their own entrepreneurial ventures
Written by Ying Han, Master’s student in Asian Studies, Curriculum Development and Communications Assistant at the Arts Amplifier.
Published: 6 November 2024