Social Innovation, Social Enterprises and the Cultural Economy

"From her vantagepoint at the intersection of culture, social innovation and social economy Rocío Nogales Muriel is uniquely positioned to observe the crucial contribution of culture to social transformation. She analyses how culture in its diversity is a leverage for emancipation, empowerment, and democracy. Furthermore, the book is an excellent contribution to understand how crisis of the past and present are triggers of collective learning and social innovation, and how artists and creators are contributing to mitigate the contemporary eco-social crises." Lars Hulgård,Roskilde University, Denmark

"Rocío Muriel Nogales' book provides us with the most up-to-date synthesis on the relations between cultural emancipation, social innovation and social economy. Human self-emancipation reaches its fullness only when culture grows as a hybrid of democracy, inclusivity, diversity and shared creativity. Socially innovative initiatives, and certainly social enterprises, are the natural agents of such hybridization. They epitomize mutual aid and its power to override the ethics of individualism. The book is a must-read for any citizen concerned about the role of culture in keeping us human." Frank Moulaert, Ku Leuven, Belgium

"Through the lens of the remarkable SMart cooperative, Rocío Nogales Muriel’s rigorous analysis
demonstrates the capacity of social enterprise and the social and solidarity economy to transform
the lives of freelance cultural workers and the small organizations and companies that dominate
the sector. This inspiring and scholarly book is a ‘must read” by researchers, policy makers and
by all engaged in culture and in the arts." Marguerite Mendell, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

"Bringing the arts and culture back in” through social entrepreneurship constitutes the leitmotiv
of this volume! Indeed, after years of neo-liberal thinking, the volume indicates a turning point
for the policy field. Finally, the arts and culture are again appreciated as a source of inspiration
and innovation as well as an avenue for offering possibilities for both societal integration and
individual creativity. This is made possible thanks to the growing attractiveness and emergence
of social enterprises and social entrepreneurship." Annette Zimmer,Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany