Arts Festival Research Articles

Who Owns the Truth? – Review from the Festival of Arts, Science, and Society – Ars Electronica 2023

Who Owns the Truth? – Review from the Festival of Arts, Science, and Society – Ars Electronica 2023

Collectivity, Memory, and Art Making: Marcel Pinas and the Maroons in Suriname

This article develops an online interview conducted with the visual artist Marcel Pinas who lives and works in the Caribbean continental country of Suriname, South America. Marcel Pinas, starting from his standpoint as a Maroon clan descendant, focuses his art practice, art projects, and art festival on the country’s complex Maroon culture. The interview analyzes the country’s historical and sociopolitical context and explains the creative process and communitarian development of the art festival that Marcel Pinas initiated in Moengo, a symbolic location for the Maroon population and for Suriname’s post-independence history. Moreover, following the artist’s opinions and shared the article integrates Marcel Pinas’ artworks and installations—even when these are referred to ever so tacitly—and shows some of the relationships between his art practices and the Maroon communities as well as interconnections with the global contemporary art world.

Comunidade Caribenha (CARICOM) — Cultura

The role of culture in Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM’s) agenda is claimed to be very important. The CARICOM Secretariat has a culture program, aiming to strengthen the creativity of people. CARICOM annually manages the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA). A huge issue is that of the cultural restitutions. Most CARICOM Member States have become States Parties to International Conventions related to cultural heritage. Sadly, all international Conventions concerning protection of cultural heritage do not have retroactive effect. There is also a CARICOM commission on reparations for slavery and native genocide against the governments of Britain, France and the Netherlands, the transatlantic slave trade, between the 16th to 19th centuries, being much associated with the Caribbean heritage. Languages are important for the cultural identity of people. It may be stated on CARICOM’s site that “Our languages are part of the legacy of the various civilisations from which our ancestors came”, but it is also stated that “[f]or many member states, the English Language is a major unifying factor”. Indigenous languages should be of more concern to CARICOM. The creation of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in 2005, is considered very important toward the Caribbean integration and thus, also to the protection of the region’s culture and cultural heritage – important part of their identity. However, only 4 Member States so far have accepted the CCJ as their Highest Court of Appeal. CARICOM should be more active in regard to the protection of culture and cultural heritage of its Member States.

From Landscapes to Projection Drama

From Landscapes to Projection Drama

Comrade-Thinkers

This article analyzes Drucilla Cornell’s critical theory as a practice of engaging with radical thinking and radical politics in the interest of revolutionary transformation. Arguing that Walter Benjamin’s imperative to wrest tradition away from conformism is at the heart of Cornell’s work, the article shows how Cornell applies this imperative both to the tradition of resistance against oppression and to critical theory itself. The article follows Cornell’s call to decolonize the critical theoretical project by bringing Surinamese anticolonial activist and writer Anton de Kom, various collectives that participated in the 2022 German art festival documenta 15, and the disobedience of six young Palestinian “Freedom Riders” into conversation with Cornell’s writings on the South African Revolution and on Afro-Caribbean liberatory thought.

Speculations and Survivals:

What role might an engagement with the past continue to play for an anthropology oriented toward the imagining and enacting of alternative (more just, livable, sustainable) futures? I approach this question via a “speculative memoir” of my own involvement in the Papay Gyro Nights Art Festival, held on the island of Papa Westray, Orkney (2011-2017). Founded by two emigré artist-curators (from Kyrgyzstan and Hong Kong), and featuring a range of contemporary artworks in a variety of media, the festival sought to engage elements from North Atlantic storytelling and performance traditions to explore alternative forms of collectivity, premised not on reactionary nostalgia or readymade criteria of inclusion and exclusion, but on an open-ended and experimental engagement between pasts and presents, humans and other-than-humans, including the singular materiality of the island setting.

An Economic Analysis of the Burning Man Festival's Marketing Evolution

This paper focuses on the economic and marketing analysis of the Burning Man event (also known as the “Burning Man festival”). It is doing so by tracing the festival’s evolution from a small bonfire ritual on San Francisco beach in California in 1986 to a globally renowned art festival held for the whole full week before the Labor Day weekend in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. The festival has gradually become one of the world’s top “must-see” and “must-attend” attractions (often getting various nicknames by the press and researchers – from the “magic circus in the desert” to the “lucrative circus” or “Silicon Valley playground”). Currently, Burning Man is attracting more than 60,000 participants (who call themselves “Burners”) annually and making over $8 million in tickets and donations (there has been a cap implemented on the maximum number of participants due to the environmental and land protection concerns since the current venue is located in the National Conservation Area). It has also served as an inspiration for a series of similar festivals or smaller events organized in other parts of the world, from Lithuania to Spain (or even Israel), helping to create and sustain the global “Burning Man” worldwide community. Drawing on data from more than 500 surveys conducted at the different Burning Man festivals between 2012 and 2018 by the authors, this paper explores the transformation of the Burning Man event into a high-end event characterized by significant expenditure and participation from upper social echelons. Contrary to popular perception, Burning Man emerges not as a ‘hippie’ Woodstock-type gathering but as an elite networking hub, highlighting the interplay of luxury and ‘radical expression’. The research reveals that average spending per participant ranges from $5,000 to $6,000 (including tickets, travel costs, gear, supplies, and gifts), challenging the festival’s accessibility. Furthermore, despite the allure of the event, the demanding Black Rock desert environment distinguished by the severe temperature changes and alkaline dust storms often happening on a dry lakebed (or “playa”) seems to deter repeat attendance among wealthier participants. Our paper contributes to understanding the dynamics of popular festival marketing and the shifting demographic profile of the Burning Man festival, offering insights into its exclusivity and the economic implications of its ‘radical expression’ ethos.

Proposals and practices for promoting tourism by advancing open data through public-private partnerships

The tourism sector, which has suffered a decline in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to be revived with digital technology in the post-COVID society. This study aims to link event initiatives in Ichinomiya City (Aichi Prefecture) with local government-led initiatives to promote the use of local informatization and open data, create and publish event information data, and utilize such data. To this end, we created and implemented a proposal to develop tourism promotions through public-private partnerships between the City Hall and local companies. Through initiatives undertaken at the International Art Festival Aichi 2022 and the Hitsuji Summit Bishu, we were able to verify that our study’s presented methodology was useful for promoting events by the city (government) and industry (private). We believe that this will help to develop the entire region not just with regard to the tourism field but also other fields. Based on the results of this study, we also discussed ways to improve the city’s appeal and promote tourism.

Review: Selling Black Brazil: Race, Nation, and Visual Culture in Salvador, Bahia, by Anadelia A. Romo, and Modernity in Black and White: Art and Image, Race and Identity in Brazil, 1890–1945, by Rafael Cardoso

Review: <i>Selling Black Brazil: Race, Nation, and Visual Culture in Salvador, Bahia</i>, by Anadelia A. Romo, and <i>Modernity in Black and White: Art and Image, Race and Identity in Brazil, 1890–1945</i>, by Rafael Cardoso

The Effectiveness of Attractions in Increasing the Visits of Tourists in Samosir, North Sumatera

This research aims to analyse the effectiveness of attractions in increasing the visits of tourists. This research used quantitative. The research population was the communities of tourist villages, and the tourists who came to visit Samosir, North Sumatera, while the research samples were 50 people taken by random sampling technique. The techniques of research data collection were documentation studies, questionnaires, observations and interviews. The data analysis technique used is simple linear regression. The results of the study conclude that there was a positive and significant contribution between the effectiveness of attractions on the visits of tourists in the tourism village of Samosir, North Sumatera. Suggestions for this research need to increase the quantity and quality of attractions based on Batak culture periodically and continuously such as festivals of songs, dances and Batak cultural arts so that they attract tourists to visit in Samosir, North Sumatera.

Penerapan Metode MOORA dalam Menentukan Juara pada Festival Seni Nasyid

Nasyid Art Festival is an opportunity for young people, especially Muslim youth who are interested in the field of Islamic music. Usually, in this nasyid art, we often encounter an Islamic organization or every mosque or musholla administrator, there must be an organization called Youth Mosque or BKM (Mosque Management Agency) which will certainly facilitate the development of this cultural art so that it does not become extinct. However, we often find that in a Nasyid Art Festival fraud and KKN (Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism) often occur in the selection of champions at this nasyid art festival. Therefore the researcher is interested in implementing the MOORA method in solving a problem, after applying the MOORA method in determining the winner in the nasyid festival competition, the final results show that the best alternative with the highest Yi value is the A3 group Salahuddin alternative with a Yi value of 0.4765. The second position is occupied by alternative A2 group Rabbani with a Yi value of 0.4473, while the third position is occupied by alternative A4 group Qhairun with a Yi value of 0.4472

Reinhabiting in Huaniao Island

This paper argues that the loss of cultural memories is an essential issue that challenges the social transformation in Chinese rural regeneration and proposes 'reinhabiting the place' as a potential to empower the traditional community and contribute to renewing cultural connections. Based on my experience of the residency period and other artists' practice on the Huaniao Island, this portfolio explores 'culture aphasia' in the rural revitalization of Huaniao island. It investigates the 2nd Huaniao Island International Public Art Festival's social engagement practice and explores how creative strategies operate to reinhabit the place and re-establish cultural connections. The text explores how artists work proactively with residents and visitors, reconstruct the cultural memories, and renew affective engagement of the community.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRUST, ECONOMIC EFFECTIVENESS AND SATISFACTION IN A TOURISM EVENT CONTEXT: THE CASE OF THE LIMBE CULTURAL ARTS FESTIVAL, CAMEROON

This study evaluates the relationship between community perception of government’s effectiveness and trust in government at the local level. Using the Festival of Arts and Culture hosted in Limbe, Cameroon, the study evaluates how citizens’ experiences of a service delivery influence their trust in the government, and the mediating effect of economic, social, and political factors. Trust is evaluated using three measures: competency, integrity, and responsibility. A framework that distinguishes between broad and narrow measures of economic effectiveness is proposed and tested using an ordered logit model. Findings from data generated from 324 event attendees indicate that citizens’ perceptions of broad measures of economic effectiveness is influenced by the social and political environment, which in turn influences their trust in the local government. They are, however, able to separate the socio-political context from the economic when asked about narrow measures of economic effectiveness. These findings are relevant for political planners, analysts, and policymakers seeking to foster political trust and support.

THE INFLUENCE OF MEMORABLE FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES ON ARAB VISITORS’ REVISIT INTENTION TO THE JERASH FESTIVAL OF CULTURE AND ARTS (JFCA) IN JORDAN

The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of memorable festival experiences (MFEs) on revisit intention from the perspective of Arab visitors in the context of the Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts (JFCA) in Jordan. The quantitative research method was used in the research. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used in the data analysis to test the research hypothesis. The study found that MFEs influence Arab visitors’ revisit intention. It also confirmed the validity of Event Experience Scale (EES) that constitutes four dimensions: affective engagement, cognitive engagement, physical engagement, and experiencing novelty, in the context of Arab visitors. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. Theoretically, the study provides insight into the influence of MFEs on Arab visitors’ revisit intentions. It also evaluates the reliability and validity of EES for the first time in the context of Arab cultural festivals. Practically, the study paved the way for JFCA organisers, planners, managers, and marketers to plan, develop, and market useful festival tourism strategies. It is also envisaged that the information obtained in this study will help promote the enhancement of visitors’ experiences at JFCA to attract and retain more visitors in the globally competitive event industry.

Bali Quality and Sustainable Tourism Development towards Local Economic Impact

Quality and sustainable tourism is one of the drivers in the new economic sector, creating attractions and superior products that are of interest to the international market and world buyers. This study aims at investigating tourism development efforts through the annual execution of Bali Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) and Bali Arts Festival (BAF) which will have an economic impact on local communities and tourism actors. This study uses an interpretative qualitative analysis model through observational data collection, in-depth interviews and document studies. The results of the study show that tourism activities create demand, both consumption and investment which in turn will lead to goods and services production activities in improving people's welfare and economic growth, especially the multiplier effect for local communities. Therefore, the quality and sustainable tourism that is carried out regularly at BBTF and BAF is one of the drivers in the new economic sector, creating superior attractions and products that are of interest to the international market and world buyers.

Strategi Pengembangan Obyek Wisata Aua Sarumpun oleh Dinas Pariwisata Pemuda dan Olahraga Kabupaten Tanah Datar

The purpose of this study is to describe the strategy of the Tanah Datar Youth and Sports Tourism Office in developing Aua Sarumpun Tourism Object, to describe the inhibiting and supporting factors in the development of Aua Sarumpun Tourism Object. This research is processed by qualitative analysis techniques with descriptive methods, for data collection techniques through interviews, observation and documentation. Based on the results of research and discussion , it was found that the strategy for developing Aua Sarumpun tourism objects by the Youth and Sports Tourism Office was only by promoting using social media such as Instagram and Facebook and holding one event such as the Camp Art Festival which was held in August 2020 as well as in terms of facilities and infrastructure to pave the road approximately 300 meters. In terms of developing Aua Sarumpun tourism objects, there are still obstacles faced by the Tourism, Youth and Sports Office of Tanah Datar Regency.

Neo-endogenous revitalisation: Enhancing community resilience through art tourism and rural entrepreneurship

The decline and socio-economic stagnation of rural communities is a growing concern across the world. To promote community resilience, art- and creativity-based strategies are emerging as important means for rural revitalisation. This study adopts a neo-endogenous perspective to examine how socially engaged art can represent an effective tool for revitalising communities and strengthening their resilience. We examine the case of Japan's Setouchi Triennale, an international art festival which aims at revitalising twelve small islands by promoting socially engaged art and festival tourism. This mixed methods research focuses on the three islands characterised by the best revitalisation outcomes. The tourism opportunities and increased place recognition resulting from the exogenous art festival initiative triggered endogenous community responses in terms of increased entrepreneurship and social innovation, facilitating the emergence of neo-endogenous revitalisation processes. At the same time, different islands are characterized by different response mechanisms, which depend on the initial resources and features of each island. Exogenous, endogenous, and neo-endogenous elements are therefore all necessary to increase rural resilience. Successful neo-endogenous revitalisation through socially engaged art, however, requires long-term co-creation between exogenous art development and endogenous community activities.

Carnival in Africa

Carnival in Africa

Telling the personal stories behind cancer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

With half of Britons developing cancer at some point in their lives, it is perhaps unsurprising that cancer is featured so regularly by performers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival. Although breast cancer has featured heavily during previous festivals, this summer's crop of shows covered a broad range of cancers, from testicular to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and took in the origins of the hospice movement along the way. Three of the performances at the 2022 Fringe used contrasting formats to tell the personal stories of the people living with and dying from cancer, with two dramatic plays and a true story presented as a solo show.

통영연극예술축제의 브랜드 구축 방안 연구

The need for brand building is growing at local arts festivals. Therefore, this study tried to contribute to the establishment of the brand strategy of the local art festival by analyzing the brand construction status of the Tongyeong Theater Arts Festival(TTAF) as a brand myth construction model. As a result of the study, in terms of the dominant ideology, the TTAF was exposed to negative perceptions such as their own league, low artistic level, and doubts about individuality and creativity, as commonly found in other regional festivals. In addition, the desires of consumers and masses were marked by independent consumption, demand for easy and comfortable arts, and enhancement of pride and self-esteem in local culture. To overcome the cultural contradiction, the TTAF is judged to have to focus more on regional specialization and artistic level improvement using the unique cultural resources of the region. Therefore, this study specifically suggests the improvement of the brand strategy of the TTAF through the supplementation and innovation of the PR marketing strategy.