AN INSIGHT INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN ROMANIAN CULTURAL-CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

This paper aims to provide an insight into the current state of entrepreneurship in Romanian cultural-creative sector. At the beginning, it comprises a synthetic overview of the literature on entrepreneurship and on the current statistical situation of entrepreneurship at national and European level. Then the paper emphasizes the role of cultural-creative industries in the contemporary economy, also at the national and at the European level, after a brief theoretical delimitation of the concept "creative industries". Our empirical research aimed to outline an overview of the entrepreneurial experience of some Romanian owners of SMEs in various cultural-creative fields, using qualitative methodology through in-depth face-to-face interviews based on semi-structured interview guide addressed to a group of entrepreneurs in Bucharest. For most of them, the reasons for opening an SME was either an obligation - wages too low at the organization where they were previously employees, either an effect of a personal need for autonomy and creativity or a passion in a specific field. All interviewed entrepreneurs had specific knowledge and know-how in the area in which developed SMEs. Most entrepreneurs are discontented by the bureaucracy, the tax policies, and the too changing legislation, but also by the professional and human quality of their employees. Examples of good practices in their field are related to the tenacity, creativity, and ability to be self-taught of entrepreneurs in the cultural-creative sector. General recommendations for authorities included reducing taxes, bureaucracy and law changes, simplifying the procedures for accessing European funds; there are also suggestions for the young entrepreneurs in the cultural-creative area.