Aesthetic Experience and Creativity of Expert Cultural Entrepreneurs in Colombia: A Qualitative Study

Abstract This qualitative research addresses the psychological study of the confluence between aesthetic experience and creative process in cultural entrepreneurs, taking into account that research in Psychology of Aesthetics and Psychology of Creativity is necessary to achieve a better understanding of innovation in creative industries. We conducted a qualitative study on the role of aesthetic experience in the creative process, through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 expert cultural entrepreneurs from the Colombian Caribbean. As a result of a thematic analysis, we found that aesthetic experience is a relevant guide in the creativity of cultural entrepreneurs, usually represented in receptivity to aesthetic sensations that emerge during the creative process. Also, in the midst of the creative process, the entrepreneurs try to maintain a balance between individual and collective needs.