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Design a mission-led folklore enterprise!

Local Enterprise


Author: Symplexis - Nora Giannakaki

Introduction

Photo of a fashion product label - no copyright, photo belongs to partner SYMPLEXIS
Photo of a fashion product label - no copyright, photo belongs to partner SYMPLEXIS

In this webquest you will learn about  the idea to use folklore for creating local enterprises in a manner that the local community also benefits from it, while to inspire businesses from your local cultural folklore resources, and support community members, who are in need. 

For the ACE Culture Project the term 'folklore' describes the “overarching concept that holds together a number of aspects of vernacular culture and cultural traditions, and is also the name of the discipline which studies them”.

Your mission-led folklore-based business idea will be developed within the framework of an “ACE CULTURE WORKSHOP”.

What’s the activity?

The picture is of Symplexis. It is an art picture inspired by a local folk tale from Tinos island.
The picture is of Symplexis. It is an art picture inspired by a local folk tale from Tinos island.

This webquest is about how to deliver a workshop or a series of workshops to your community by you on the business value of local folklore. 

It is developed 

  • on the ACE partnership’ s knowledge, expertise and experience in delivering capacity building programs in the field of art and adult education,
  • experiential skills-based learning theory,
  • and the idea to create a business which has a strong mission and supports the local community.

Within the framework of the ACE Culture Project in this quest, you are encouraged to use a participatory and collaborative approach for all the above; It means that your workshop attendees will have the opportunity to express and creatively celebrate the culture of their local community.

“Participatory” is a term used to express not only participation, collaboration and engagement of a given audience or target group. It also entitles the target group with co-author rights, giving it room to express itself or give itself a voice, so it can point their view. Is a democratic approach that fosters inclusion, pride, collective stewardship and helps building a sense of community.

In particular, you will encourage your attendees to explore the local culture and folklore elements of their neighbourhood, while getting prepared to build business from it. During this learning experience, your attendees will have the opportunity to  strengthen their hidden business skills as artists or amateur art lovers.

By studying your community and its folklore treasure, you will be able to create something unique -  bridging the past with the future in a business manner.  

What am I going to do?

You can lead your workshop and inspire your attendees through the following ideas:

  1. Study your local community's folklore resources: you can visit  heritage sites and museums, search for online material on the folklore elements  shaping your village/ city/ neighbourhood, start a dialogue with folklore experts and artists. Remember, that folklore resources can be both written, drawn or oral.
  2. Define what folklore is and what it means to you. One definition or starting point could be: Folklore covers topics such as traditional music, song, dance and drama, narrative, arts and crafts, customs, and belief, as well popular religion, traditional and regional food, folk medicine, children's folklore, traditional sayings, proverbs, rhymes, and jingles. 
  3. Invite family, co-workers or friends so you have a group of participants that will safeguard that you can kick-off with the main idea. 
  4. Your idea is the best if it is inclusive - plan to target people of different ages, ethnicities, educational levels, abilities. Equality and inclusivity are crucial in a mission-led business. 
  5. Make a marketing plan for your business idea and be flexible to make changes during the process. Have a risk plan and a best - worst case scenario! 
  6. Find your mission: the person or group of people or case you aim at supporting
  7. Create a strong story around your product: Who are you? What is your mission? Who do you want to support? Why?
  8. Create a product of the folklore element of your choice. Be flexible and creative. Involve others, who inspire you! Remember, you do not have to ‘discover gunpowder’ again! Your mission to support your community members will definitely make it unique!
  9. “Test” your product before you go public with it! Ask your people - family, friends, (former colleagues, etc.) - what they think about it. Be open to criticism! Make your product better! Change it! Its colour, … the whole thing! :) 
  10. Communicate with your people of choice for support. Involve them in your promotion campaign! 
  11. Start promoting your product with a clear message about your mission and whom you wish to support! Remember your story and use it! Rewrite it, if needed!
  12. Use online surfaces for promoting your product. 
  13. Collaborate with other like-minded people or businesses! You may find a space to share with someone or promote each others’  work/product through your online platforms, or make a gift basket, etc. together in promotions. 

What will I learn?

Knowledge Acquired:

  • Basic knowledge on facilitating workshops - planning, delivering, follow up.
  • Knowledge on the needs of your community members (of your choice).
  • Basic knowledge on the local folklore resources and relevant cultural spaces.
  • Knowledge on how to work around a mission.
  • Basic knowledge on online and offline local and global platforms for promoting local businesses.
  • Basic knowledge of developing a simple business plan

Skills Acquired:

  • Facilitate communal events - workshops.
  • Organise networking event(s) for artists and cultural actors;
  • Explore folklore elements of your neighbourhood and local businesses through on and offline platforms;
  • Have digital skills for business promotion
  • Creatively express local identity.
  • Able to mentor and support others efficiently.
  • Has leadership skills
  • Has communication skills
  • Has basic business skills in planning

Attitude Acquired:

  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patient
  • Supportive
  • Critical in a positive manner/ non -judgmental
  • Honest
  • Collaborative, team player
  • Business-driven

 

What will I take home?

As a cultural mediator, it is crucial that you become a facilitator par excellence. May it be a facilitator in terms of communication, events, cultural expression, community organising, etc.

You will know how to plan and deliver a workshop related to arts to adults of a local community.

You will have a net of people dedicated to changing their local communities everyday life to better and more equal, while starting their art business in the near future. 

You will have a better understanding of what are local people’s main fears and obstacles to start local enterprises, as well as their needs, motivations, ideas, and competencies.  These all will help you to strengthen your professional profile as a cultural mediator.

All the above will also result in improved entrepreneurial skills of you and your attendees and your community’ s  as a whole.

The idea that art has a business value will be spread and inspire your community, and especially artists to see local folklore more with a “business eye”.

After the gathering(s), reflect on what could be improved next time you organise anything similar or to give pieces of advice to someone who is working on planning and delivering an art-inspired workshop or event.

You will NOT be trained as a business developer or get legal or economical advice on how to create a business. This quest is about how art and folklore can be valued as a business idea and inspire (future) local entrepreneurs and communities.

Resources

Click each section below to see all resources available.

 

Frontline Worker Toolkit

Aims and Objectives:

  • Understand the process of designing a local enterprise based on folklore art.
  • Plan and deliver an art-inspired workshop or other educational or art event.
  • Explore local folklore for driving a mission-led business.
  • Practice community building through arts and for connecting in business.
  • Understand the needs of local community members and those of more support - potential targets of support from enterprises. Finding a mission leading business
  • Help strengthen both the artistic and business mindset of attendees.
  • Find channels for promoting a new artistic enterprise.
  • Become a skillful educator/ frontline worker for community support and adult education

Top tips:

As a frontline worker or educator, you may find here some hints to support you in interacting with your audience/ learners.

For understanding the local context, map successfully running local art enterprises and share the results with your learners/ audience:

  • What are their products? 
  • What is their mission? Is there one for supporting others from the community? If yes, how?
  • Who are their audience/ customers?
  • Do they get any state funding? 
  • Would they collaborate with new-comer art enterprises? Consider them as potential future partners or collaborators. 

Explore local folklore.

  • What are the more knowledgeable examples? 
  • Are there still any folklore pieces to discover? 
  • What do your audience/ learners know already about local folklore?
  • Where can they be found/ accessed?
  • What can folklore “give” to a business? What do your audience/learners think is its value?  

Share examples and good practices of mission-led small businesses. (e.g. Tiny Miracles - European  company selling textil bags made by Asian women for the support of these women,)    

Help your learners/ audience make a research on possible funding, donor and sponsoring opportunities. Search for potential local, national, European and global supporters for your learners.

Remember what you already know: the people, the knowledge, the skills you have to support your learners/ audience.

Find opportunities for networking community gathering for supporting your audience/ learners’ ideas on art enterprises or ‘art making”. 

Understanding mission-led businesses: terms of reference
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-mission-led-businesses-terms-of-reference

 

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