The Challenges in Identification of Artists-Managers: Consequences for Creativity

Abstract

Research on identity, its tensions and paradoxes have extensive literature and a large number of scientists exploring the subject. Our own experiences in the fields of art and management were the main arguments for the introduce of the concept of “artists-managers” and to undertake research in the area of artists-managers’ identity to find the conclusions for creativity. This article aims to describe the challenges in the identification of artists-managers, who can be crucial in understanding the creativity factor. To reach our goal, we run empirical qualitative research based on in-depth interviews with key-informants from Europe, Africa and North America as well as auto-analysis of an artist-manager identity. We answer the research question “Who is the artist-manager?”. We present our “creativity development model” on the base of artists-managers’ characteristics and we describe what kind of challenges should be considered in the empirical research of artists-managers. These challenges may be used as guidelines for artists-managers: for those who discover an artist-manager in their personality, for defined artists-managers to help to better understand their features, and for artists-managers’ followers to be more sensitive for their leaders’ characteristics. Our model may help to understand and develop the creativity of society.

Does entrepreneurial factor influence creative identities' perception?

“…In the same context, the ability to connect contradictions by an artist is quite similar (difference of 1,74%) perceived by entrepreneurial (3.51) and nonentrepreneurial individuals (3.60) in halfway between neutral and rather important. Artist's identity appears in numerous supplementary areas of human activity, e.g., among teachers and lecturers (Bremmer et al, 2020;Dahlsen, 2015;Thornton, 2011), managers (Szostak & Sułkowski, 2020a, 2021b, 2021c. Nevertheless, the context is continuously explained as the most critical factor in self-identity and the artist's perception; the state of self-negotiation and identity formation by artists is substantially dependent on context (Luger, 2017).…”

“…Those complex identities may trigger complications, dilemmas, and tensions (Mathias & Williams, 2017;Mochalova, 2020;Schediwy et al, 2018;Warhurst & Black, 2017) but correspondingly can uncover different dimensions, skills, and potentials for individuals. There is only one condition here: these individuals must control the particular identities using well-described methods like identity work, identity regulation, creativity development, or paradoxical thinking (Antal et al, 2016;Cuganesan, 2017;Szostak & Sułkowski, 2021b).…”

Does Creativity Influence the Perception of Creative Identities?

“…The development of an artist's identity reduces symptoms and exposes damaging narratives based on a psychopathological paradigm (Thompson, 2016). The artist's identity appears in many additional areas of human activity, e.g., among teachers and lecturers (Bremmer et al, 2020;Dahlsen, 2015;Thornton, 2011), managers (Szostak and Sułkowski, 2020a;2021b;2021c). Nevertheless, the context is always described as the most critical factor in self-identity and the artist's perception; artists' state of selfnegotiation and identity formation is highly dependent on context (Luger, 2017).…”

“…Those complex identities may cause difficulties, dilemmas, and tensions (Mochalova, 2020;Schediwy et al, 2018;Warhurst and Black, 2017) but also may expose new dimensions, skills, and potentials for individuals if they can control the particular identities by identity regulation, identity work, paradoxical thinking or creativity development (Antal et al, 2016;Cuganesan, 2017;Szostak and Sułkowski, 2021b).…”

“…Besides, while separating the creativity issue among these groups of individuals, it is discovered that even the individuals with exceedingly developed abilities letting to portray their featuresthanks to high education, life experience, and complex identitieshave problems with the distinction between the creative and noncreative artist/manager/entrepreneur/leader (Szostak and Sułkowski, 2021c;2021b).…”