Festival hiatus, resilience and innovation during COVID-19: learnings from the Edinburgh festivals
International Journal of Event and Festival Management
ISSN: 1758-2954
Article publication date: 6 June 2023
Issue publication date: 13 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, the authors explore how Edinburgh's key Festivals have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their response presents the emergence of more innovative festival delivery models and a different imagining of the festival space.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a qualitative mixed methods research design involving 13 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Edinburgh's Festival Directors and other cultural and policy stakeholders as part of a University-funded stand-alone research project. The interviews were supplemented with participant observation at festivals virtually and in-person to experience new and emerging formats of festival content delivery, adherence to Scottish Government guidelines on COVID-19 safety, and to experience attending festivals during a pandemic.
Findings
The authors present findings on how Edinburgh's Festivals have responded to Covid-19 and how they have adapted – and in some cases reimagined – their business models to survive.
Originality/value
The authors propose a new theoretical framework that establishes a model for how festivals can approach risk management within their business model, focused on the ‘3R's’ – respond, resilience and reimagine –with communication and support being central to this framework.
Keywords
Citation
Ali-Knight, J., Kerr, G., Stewart, H. and Holmes, K. (2023), "Festival hiatus, resilience and innovation during COVID-19: learnings from the Edinburgh festivals", International Journal of Event and Festival Management, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 170-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEFM-08-2022-0068
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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