Poetry and Money: From History to New Ways of Valuing Creativity
On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, ORKIDS Incubator hosted the first evening of its cultural entrepreneurship series, welcoming Dr. Hichem Ben Halima and international expert Jamal Nouara for a discussion exploring the historical relationship between poetry and money and the future of valuing artistic creativity.
Introducing the Guest and His Journey
The evening began with Dr. Hichem Ben Halima introducing himself and sharing highlights of his academic and professional journey.
An Algerian academic and linguistic researcher, Dr. Ben Halima is known for his work in linguistics and the Arabic grammatical and morphological heritage. Alongside his academic pursuits, he maintains a strong connection with Algeria’s literary and poetic community.
His involvement in literary events includes serving as a jury member and chair of literary competitions, notably the Martyr Rabie Bouchama Poetry and Literature Competition. Through these roles, he contributes to evaluating poetry, particularly classical Arabic verse, and guiding emerging poets. His expertise combines a solid linguistic background with a refined literary perspective, bringing together respect for the heritage of Arabic poetry and openness to contemporary critical approaches.
This background provided a valuable perspective for the evening’s central topic: the relationship between poetic expression, its cultural value, and its economic dimensions.
Poetry and Money Throughout History
The discussion explored the historical relationship between poetry and money, tracing its evolution from the pre-Islamic era to the present day.
Participants examined the different mechanisms and practices through which poets have received financial support and recognition, considering how patronage, economic circumstances, and changing social structures have influenced poetic production across the centuries.
The exchange highlighted the longstanding connection between artistic creation and the economic conditions that can sustain, promote, or shape it.
From Artistic Creativity to Innovative Markets
The conversation then moved toward the future of cultural and artistic entrepreneurship, focusing on ways to better recognize and develop the economic value of creative work.
Participants explored the potential of modern technologies and innovative markets to create new opportunities for artists and cultural creators. The discussion considered how creative works could reach wider audiences, find new channels for promotion and commercialization, and contribute to sustainable economic models that support artistic production.
Connecting Culture, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship
This first cultural entrepreneurship evening created a space for dialogue between academic knowledge, literary experience, and entrepreneurial thinking.
By examining the relationship between poetry and money across history and exploring new approaches to valuing creative work, the session highlighted the importance of building bridges between cultural heritage, technological innovation, and economic opportunity.