Abstract

The article explores cultural entrepreneurship practice through the theoretical lens of the paradox. Cultural entrepreneurship is a relatively new research field, and it focuses on practices of individuals creating, recognizing, and pursuing business opportunities in the production of original cultural/artistic content. Prior research shows that cultural entrepreneurship differs from “traditional” entrepreneurship along several lines. This article explores paradoxes as interlinked contradictions, manifested in the process of creating new products by nascent cultural entrepreneurs. The study follows an inductive, iterative, and qualitative approach. The analysis identified four paradoxes and responses. The study demonstrates that transcendence of contradictions between commercial and cultural/artistic goals and identities is often achieved by referring to social, ethical, aesthetic, and authorship-related rationales.