The legacy of Stavanger as Capital of Culture in Europe 2008: watershed or puff of wind?

Abstract

When studying the impact of cultural mega events, researchers tend to scrutinise their economic benefits, cultural identity, competitive advantage in attracting the attention of important stakeholders or the effect on regional development and urban regeneration. The impact on the field of cultural production has received less attention. In this article, the authors highlight the latter. Stavanger, Norway, was the 2008 European Capital of Culture. We present an analysis of the impact of this mega event on the cultural sector in the Stavanger region. Using Bourdieu’s notions of social field and social capital, this article explores the interplay between this mega event and the structure of the local field of culture. The authors analyse (1) the impact on the field itself; and (2) how it affected different parts of the sector differently. The article concludes that the field was ‘lifted’. At the same time, the larger and most institutionalised producers – the core arts institutions – gained the most, especially by increasing their social capital.