The Self-Curating Musician: An Innovative Concept and an Intensive Learning Experience by Systemic Design Thinking

Self-curation is an emerging notion in the artistic practice that we propose as an alternative to the questioned notion of entrepreneurship in the realm of classical music. Systemic Design Thinking (SDT) methods helped conceptualize self-curation and develop an intensive, week-long learning experience. Participants validated the self-curation concept and its five components: activating creativity, seeking uniqueness, developing a discourse, understanding the performance practice and engaging communities. Our study further highlights that rather than suffering from a tension between arts and commerce, young (performing) musicians experience a tension between the expectation of the outside world that they need to be exceptional as an artist, and the inner desire of being a typical worker with regular working conditions and ‘normal lives’. The awareness that someone can manifest the creativity that someone already possesses and that someone belongs to an artistic community alleviates the pressure experienced in the transition from education to work. We develop insights into multifaceted and challenging self-curation careers.