Instances of cultural entrepreneurship: Perspectives on how and why two mariachi cultural entrepreneurs interface with mainstream cultural, social, and economic infrastructures

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to explore instances of cultural entrepreneurship in two distinct mariachi communities, Mariachi Viva Mexico in Hillsboro, OR, and an online virtual YouTube community (or YouTube channel). My goal is to explore how mariachi leaders function as cultural entrepreneurs within local, regional, national, and international mariachi communities (or contexts). Because I see the cultural entrepreneur as “filling and bridging gaps,” this research presupposes that by identifying the issues faced by cultural entrepreneurs, we develop a greater understanding of our political, institutional, societal deficiencies in arts programming and community cultural development in general. Furthermore, by understanding the problem solving processes and approaches of the cultural entrepreneurs we may be able to better understand the needs of marginalized and underrepresented communities with regards to arts and cultural programming.