Craft Entrepreneurship - by Annette Naudin & Karen Patel (Paperback)

About the Book

This book brings together historical, policy and individual narratives to inform a broad understanding of craft entrepreneurship.

Book Synopsis

Craft practice has experienced a sharp rise in popularity since the late 2000s, partly through the 'aura of the analogue' and the desire for authentic, handmade products in an increasingly fast paced, digitalised world (Luckman, 2015) but also because of digital platforms such as Etsy and social media enabling 'anyone' to become a craft entrepreneur. This book brings together historical, policy and individual narratives to inform a broad understanding of craft entrepreneurship.
Drawing on case studies from around the world, Craft Entrepreneurship considers questions of identity, community, and the digital in craft entrepreneurship. In doing so, it finds craft activities to be positioned between or across the arts, heritage, notions of a bohemian lifestyle and the challenges of micro-entrepreneurship. By engaging with the contradictions and fragility of sustaining a craft practice, the chapters in this book contribute to different perspectives for entrepreneurship studies. The contributions to this volume illustrate the craft entrepreneurs' identity, motivation and sense of creative purpose through their craft, as these collide with the tensions brought about through entrepreneurship.

Review Quotes

"The increased use of platforms such as Etsy and Instagram have resulted in interest in craft businesses and craft entrepreneurship, opening new windows for both craftspeople and those interested in entrepreneurship. In this volume, contributors from England, Scotland, Canada, Serbia, and Sweden cover topics that fall under the umbrella of cultural policy and craft economy. The included case studies offer interesting statistical information, such as the fact that people employed in craft industries are predominantly male, whereas self-employed and part-time workers tend to be female.... With a list of impressive contributors, this compact volume is well researched and supported by expansive bibliographic notes at the end of each essay. Recommended." --Choice Reviews

About the Author

Annette Naudin is Associate Professor in the Birmingham Institute for Media and English, Birmingham City University.
Karen Patel is Research Fellow in the Birmingham Institute for Media and English, Birmingham City University.