Géraldine Dallaire

Composition of the Jury

Abstract

The figure of the cultural entrepreneur has existed for as long as art itself. However, some authors, such as Ellmeier (2003), explain that the transition from a post-industrial economy to a knowledge economy has fostered the economization of culture as well as the culturalization of the economy. Nevertheless, while cultural entrepreneurs are in the spotlight of policymakers and economic actors, contributions to scholarly research on this topic remain modest. Yet if we wish to foster their development, it is important to deepen our understanding of this group. Therefore, this dissertation project aims to help bridge the gap between their overexposure in political, economic, and media spheres and their underrepresentation in research. More specifically, it provides reference points to facilitate the development of an ecosystem and support tools that help entrepreneurs grow successfully. To this end, this study seeks to understand how these actors integrate entrepreneurial projects into their career trajectories. The goal is to understand what guides their decision-making and actions regarding the creation or development of an organization, as well as how this relates to their life plans. This dissertation thus provides insights into the following research question: How does the actor/project relationship evolve over the course of the entrepreneurial process? Methodologically, I adopt a narrative approach, which focuses on life stories (Bertaux, 2005). This approach involves analyzing and understanding situations based on individuals’ lived experiences (Sanséau, 2005). The entrepreneurial process is thus explored through narratives in order to understand the participants’ interpretations of themselves, the entrepreneurial project, and their environment.

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