This article results from a qualitative study intended to understand, analyze and systematize, both critically and strategically, what differentiates social organizations that use art to achieve social change. Initially, it presents the theoretical framework focusing primarily the concept of social organizations. Next, it narrows the analysis to the specific segment under study and summarizes the main findings based on the literature presented in the first part as well as on in-depth interviews with NGO managers and support agency workers. The following characteristics were found: differentiated appeal, broad audience, concretization, managers' background and beliefs, cultural identity/preservation. On the other hand, the main challenges were: consolidation of art as way to achieve social change, result assessment and networking.
social enterprises; third sector; culture; art