Wild and banal: the value of the arts as commons
International Journal of Event and Festival Management
ISSN: 1758-2954
Article publication date: 15 June 2015
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the value of the arts play in public spaces in replicating a contemporary commons.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is an exploratory investigation which uses a case study of cultural events in public parks – the Vancouver Parks Board’s fieldhouse residency program (2012-2015). The study uses content analysis of the social media sites created for these projects to identify how the sites and the cultural events were valued by stakeholders and participants.
Findings
The paper finds that, in combination, the park events and the social media discussion of them function as a form of the commons, in which new urban communities are formed or defined around specific common social interests.
Research limitations/implications
The paper finds that, in combination, the park events and the reflective engagement prompted by the social media discussion of them function as a form of the commons, in which new urban communities are formed or defined around specific common social interests.
Practical implications
It is anticipated that cultural programs will increasingly interact with common public places.
Social implications
The study supports the increased use of and recognition of public places as culturally significant.
Originality/value
The study aims to encourage the expansion of arts and cultural policy and programs to incorporate common public places.
Keywords
Citation
Johanson, K. (2015), "Wild and banal: the value of the arts as commons", International Journal of Event and Festival Management, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 111-121. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEFM-12-2014-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited