School of Creative
Industries
Jin Yunhan
Yunhan is from Suzhou, China. After graduating from high school in 2013, she pursued a degree in jewelry design in Milan, Italy. Following graduation, she resided in Germany for a year before returning to China to establish her jewelry brand, Whitzer.
In pursuit of expanding her knowledge in cultural domains, Yunhan decided to continue her academic journey in the MA Arts and Cultural Leadership programme at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore in 2023.
Thesis abstract
How creative entrepreneurs start their own business in Suzhou
As a jewelry designer with study experience from overseas, I aim to explore the entrepreneurial environment in Suzhou for international students aspiring to start their creative careers in the arts and design. I intend to investigate this matter by interviewing local artists and creative entrepreneurs, as well as analysing the creative and cultural industry policies of the municipal government.
China has paid attention to developing its creative industries since the start of the 21st century. During this time, millions of young Chinese had gone overseas to further their education. The government of Suzhou – a city known as a cultural tourism destination renowned for its intangible craft traditions introduced measures to attract and support returning students as part of its policy to develop the cultural industry.
This research project examines the entrepreneurial environment in Suzhou for aspiring contemporary craft and design entrepreneurs. It explores this topic through interviews with local arts and creative entrepreneurs and analysing the city government’s policies for the cultural industry. The research found that the current development of the cultural industry in Suzhou is led by the government in a 'top-down' development model, and small-scale design and craft entrepreneurs have minimal interactions with the government’s plans. The focus of government cultural industry policy is on media and the digital economy rather than contemporary crafts and design. In addition, the Suzhou population’s aesthetic taste is conservative and traditional. However, the rise of e-commerce makes it possible for individuals to operate their own design enterprises.