Festivals management studies: developing a framework and priorities for comparative and cross cultural research

Citation

Wardrop, K. (2010), "Festivals management studies: developing a framework and priorities for comparative and cross cultural research", International Journal of Event and Festival Management, Vol. 1 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijefm.2010.43401aae.002

Festivals management studies: developing a framework and priorities for comparative and cross cultural research

Article Type: Practitioner perspective on some of the papers in this issue From: International Journal of Event and Festival Management, Volume 1, Issue 1

An objective for this paper is to encourage both theoretical advances and the expansion of practical knowledge for managers through an analysis of similarities and differences revealed in a four-country comparison of festival management. With a five-component framework for understanding and creating knowledge about festivals.

As a destination promotion and development practitioner I have an interest in festivals and events as a motivating factor for visitors to a destination and the potential positive economic benefits that will accrue.

This paper gives some very helpful insights that are transferable across geographic boundaries into common experience, practice, success factors, and drivers for festivals and events. A key learning point in the paper is that “overall ownership explains a lot of the variation in festival stakeholders and environments, and this in part reflects different governmental priorities and support systems.”

This led me to reflect on the impacts of environmental factors such as government legislation, a good example being public safety requirements, and for example the financial burdens of obtaining appropriate levels of insurance cover, especially in Western societies with increasingly litigious consumers. As a practitioner these practical requirements of compliance and risk management are often the determining factors on whether a festival or event is viable or not. For smaller community-based events the need to cover the financial and regulatory requirements, addressing for example public liability risks and licensing requirements, are often insurmountable barriers. These environmental factors I believe merit more research and analysis.

The paper quite rightly draws attention to the importance of the “experience economy” and authenticity in the creation of unique experiences. However, it raises questions in my mind as to whether the Generation “Y” (“social media”) populace still need and value festivals? The social interaction dimension, face to face meeting, through festivals and events in an increasingly internet and social media dominated society, I believe is worthy of further analysis.

From a practitioner perspective, a very important conclusion in the paper is the assertion that research on festivals should inform policy. This is a point on which I strongly agree. It should also assist and inform with regard to the “Framework for understanding and creating knowledge about festivals”. I believe this model is robust, and is strengthened by the application of performance and impact measurement as articulated in the “triple bottom-line”.

I wonder, however, if a dimension of analysis is missing? Should there not also be consideration of the influences and impact of media partners, sponsors and promoters in shaping the “experience and character” of festivals and events.