Getting started in cultural & creative entrepreneurship

Although culture and entrepreneurship often seem to evolve in separate spheres, in reality they can intertwine to create a promising dynamic.

Culture and entrepreneurship: a possible synergy

While culture generally evokes art and creativity, entrepreneurship is more closely associated with economic value creation and commercial innovation. However, these two dimensions are far from mutually exclusive. Instead, they can complement and enrich each other, fostering the development of innovative projects and the growth of innovative companies. This synergy is evident in the creation of companies dedicated to the production or distribution of cultural goods and services, such as art galleries, publishing houses, design studios and theatres. These businesses contribute to cultural vitality, job creation and sustainable economic prosperity.

Entrepreneurship can enrich culture. Cultural entrepreneurs can open up new prospects for artists, broaden access to culture for a wider audience and contribute to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

Conversely, culture can nurture entrepreneurship in a variety of ways. It serves as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for entrepreneurs, generating innovative ideas from contemplating a work of art, reading a book, or listening to a musical composition. Moreover, culture fosters the development of entrepreneurial skills, especially among artists, who often need to excel in all aspects of self-employment, time and resource management and promoting their work.

Thus, culture and entrepreneurship do more than merely coexist, they strengthen each other. By acknowledging and promoting this synergy, we can encourage the recognition of cultural and creative industries as drivers of regional development.

Get started!

Planning on setting up a business in the arts, creative or cultural sector but unsure where to start? Are you an artist, designer, stylist, photographer, sound engineer, interior decorator, editor, or similar in need of a helping hand to get started? You’re in the right place! Follow the guide to find out the five key steps to ensure your project is a success.

To ensure the success of your activity, it's crucial to choose the right legal structure, constantly refine your business model, test your idea and establish a solid financial plan. We have put together a range of resources to help you bring your project to life and provide you with the necessary information to get off to a good start in Brussels.