Against All Odds: Embedding New Knowledge for Event Continuity and Community Well-Being

Abstract

Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football (ARSF) is a sporting event that occurs yearly on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday in the market town of Ashbourne, in Derbyshire. Sometimes referred to as "mob football," Shrovetide can arguably be perceived as the quintessential sensorial and fully immersive event, being played out across town and involving the entire community. The event is also a unique tourism spectacle and a tool for tourism destination positioning. This article presents some of the results of a larger study that looks at challenges in the matter of events safety and the impacts that this has on event survival and the sustainable development of local communities. Findings highlight the need to support communities to learn from events in order to preserve them as they are essential for the maintenance of a unique and inimitable community identity.

Community Events: Committees, Challenges, And Cooperation

“…Where culture and national identity are significant characteristics of constructive recognition (Brewster, 2010(Brewster, , 2014, enjoyed through the continuance of indigenous cultural performance and intercultural exchange (Phipps, 2010). As highlighted by Azara, Wilthsier, and Greatorex (2018), increasingly the promotion of cultural events is utilized to increase visitor numbers, which can lead to challenges associated with commercialization. Given the contribution by the Scottish diaspora to the British Imperial growth and Dominion workforce, the cultural contributions and identity that the Highland Games offer fulfil the desire to preserve Highland traditions, dress, culture, and music.…”

“…all community members will attend a local event such as minority groups or others with a general disinterest in the event (Azara et al, 2018;Bagiran & Kurgen, 2016;Boo, Carruthers, & Busser, 2014;Rogers & Anastasiadou, 2011). Unsurprisingly, Derrett (2005) found the sustainability of cultural community events improved if the local population is supportive of the event.…”

Tourism Experience in Indonesia: A New Approach Using the Rasch Model Scale

“…Currently, the tourism experience is needed in the development of city branding, as a consequence, the relevant stakeholders (managers of tourism businesses, government, and society) is required to collaborate, by selling the attractiveness of the city, into the main preferences of tourists who will visit, such as provide a quality experience high and memorable for travelers. According to Azara et al (2018), the global economy has changed significantly in recent years, from service-based to one based on experience. This understanding continues to evolve into the needs of society to an emphasis on the consumption experience than the product.…”

"Events in a Changing World": Introductory Remarks

“…It has long been accepted that events as mirrors of the social order (Handelman, 1998) and vehicles of individual and societal communication (Falassi, 1987) can tell us a great deal about how consumers and industry are being affected by the uncertainties of modern times. However, events conceived as potential agents of societal transformation (Richards, 2015) can act as lenses through which it is also possible to view and make sense of how people are responding to these uncertainties (Azara, Wiltshier, & Greatorex, 2018). May this be recognizing the need to adopt crisis communication strategies as a response to an increased threat from terrorism (see Pappas' article in this issue); or by highlighting how event consumptive practices such as munches, often seen "on the margins" of mainstream society (see Webster & Ivanov) may help our common understanding of what events are today and what they mean to people.…”