The Entrepreneurial Value of Arts Incubators

Why Fine Artists Should Make Use of Professional Arts Incubators

Abstract

The study's aim is to show whether and to what extent services of entrepreneurial value could be provided by arts incubators to nurture fine artists to meet market requirements to make a living in the arts. In order to achieve this aim, the study is first focused on the clarification of the question to what extent fine artists are currently educated in their studies at higher educational institutions on how to become successfully self-employed. The answer to this question is needed to outline the current mismatch between vocational education of fine artists and actual market requirements. A comprehensive and comparative analysis of Fine Art degree programs and extracurricular training offerings at higher educational institutions and arts incubation programs in the UK and Germany was carried out. By using various key performance indicators this study shows evidence that fine artists are not educated to successfully meet market requirements and that professional arts incubators could be a promising alternative or useful addition for fine artists' vocational preparation.