CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN RURAL AREAS A CASE STUDY OF SIFNOS AND SYROS ISLANDS

Cultural and creative entrepreneurs have been seen as key agents of the development and revitalization of rural and remote areas. But what makes those individuals turn to areas like these? How do they achieve the revival of these places? What does essentially contribute to this revival? Many questions regarding the reasons why and the ways in which creative individuals implement entrepreneurship in rural areas remain utterly unaddressed. How do they deal with and apply their innovative ideas in these parts characterized by profound tradition and culture? How do they manage to merge their initiatives with the tradition and to be successful in achieving the involvement of the local community? This study focuses on innovative cultural entrepreneurial initiatives that contribute to the social, economic, cultural, environmental and educational development of Sifnos and Syros, two of the Cyclades most famous islands in Greece. It aims to examine why creative entrepreneurs take the decision to turn to these remote parts of Greece and how they manage to gain the appreciation and the involvement of a traditional community by initiating contemporary cultural events and projects. Furthermore, it seeks to scrutinize how those actions can coexist and be combined with the tradition and create beautiful outcomes inspired by the place. A wide literature has attempted to explain how cultural entrepreneurship and creative initiatives are meaningful for the development of rural and remote areas in the economic, environmental, social, educational and cultural domains. We address the issue through the lens of cultural entrepreneurship. One of the most predominant definitions of entrepreneurship entails the grasping of an opportunity with the precondition to creating an innovation, something novel; which is by entrepreneurs who have the willingness to make something new. Therefore, we recognize the need to investigate the reactions and the behavior of the locals who have a deep respect and love for their tradition, which could stand in contrast with the contemporary cultural entrepreneurial venturing. By conducting interviews with cultural entrepreneurs in Sifnos and Syros islands in Greece, this qualitative study aims to investigate why cultural entrepreneurs chose Sifnos and Syros to implement their cultural innovative vision and; how they implement cultural entrepreneurship, accounting for the strong traditions and potential resistance by the local community. By doing so, we seek to answer the question; how cultural entrepreneurs contribute to the development of the rural region, in cultural, social and economic terms.