This research aims at exploring and understanding the complex contemporary phenomena of socially sustainable Experience economy. It contributes to the academic discussion around Experience economy research, strategy and policy by developing understanding about managing social sustainability within Experience economy ecosystems in Finland. The core question of this doctoral thesis is how to ensure everyone equal access to Experience Economy Ecosystems?
The context of this research is the new Experience Economy research program conducted at Tampere University. This article is part of a doctoral thesis, focused in specifically on industry phenomenas Accessibility of Experience and Paths and Communities of Experience. The Experience economy research program generates a rich empirical context and metadatabase highlighting the ongoing transformation and market development within the uprising Experience Economy ecosystems in Finland.
In this article experience economy is studied through social sustainability and in specifically inclusivity, to identify and analyse the mechanisms for managing social development goal SDG implementation within the experience economy ecosystems. Empirical data is drawn from OAF Outsider Art Festival. OAF is a new multidiscipline art festival, organized in conjunction with the largest Nordic art festival Helsinki Festival. OAF promotes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and contributes to Social Development Goal implementation (SDG) by managing innovative collaborations between industry outsiders and insiders. OAF provides an interesting case – an industry specific critical “node” -within the EE ecosystem, providing new knowledge from the perspective of industry outsiders.
In result, by identifying, analysing and mapping the critical nodes, access points and stages where social transformation and inclusivity actualise and create socially sustainable, experience driven business models, this research creates new knowledge of managing social sustainability within Experience economy ecosystems and networks, in research and practice. This research contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): Sustainable cities and communities (11), reduced inequalities (10), partnerships for the goals (17), industry, innovation and infrastructure (9), decent work and economic growth (8).