Prof Jane Ali-Knight J.Ali-Knight@napier.ac.uk
Professor
Purpose
In this paper, we 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
We 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
We 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
We 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.
Ali-Knight, J., Kerr, G., Stewart, H., & Holmes, K. (2023). Festival hiatus, resilience and innovation during COVID-19: learnings from the Edinburgh festivals. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 14(2), 170-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijefm-08-2022-0068
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Mar 23, 2023 |
Online Publication Date | Jun 6, 2023 |
Publication Date | 2023-06 |
Deposit Date | Mar 27, 2023 |
Publicly Available Date | Jun 6, 2023 |
Journal | International Journal of Event and Festival Management |
Print ISSN | 1758-2954 |
Publisher | Emerald |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 14 |
Issue | 2 |
Pages | 170-188 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ijefm-08-2022-0068 |
Keywords | Edinburgh Festivals, Covid-19, Hiatus, innovation, festival life-cycles |
Festival hiatus, resilience and innovation during COVID-19: learnings from the Edinburgh Festivals
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The Dynamics of Successful Events - The Experts Perspective
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