Festival hiatus, resilience and innovation during COVID-19: learnings from the Edinburgh festivals

Abstract

PurposeIn this paper, the authors 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/approachThe authors 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.FindingsThe authors 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/valueThe authors 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.

Maintaining Connections during the Pandemic: Rural Arts Festivals and Digital Practices

“…Thus, it was not a matter of festivals commissioning or producing digital art, but ensuring they could continue programming and disseminating content and maintaining connections between art producers on the one hand and audiences on the other. In this, they were not unusual [16,38,39].…”

“…The findings show that despite constraints, and in the face of crisis, opportunities arise [45]. From a business model perspective, the decision to transmit programming online can be interpreted as innovative and adaptative [39]. One effect associated with an online move is an increase in audience reach [38].…”

Saving the festival feeling

“…The model developed by Ali-Knight et al (2023) stands as a method for festivals to improve their chances of surviving a crisis such as another global pandemic. The initial element, Respond, focuses on festivals maintaining lines of communication with central government agencies, local government departments, contributors (such as actors, performers, and producers), and customers or audience members.…”

“…The work of Ali-Knight et al (2023) has posited a model for resilient festivals that centers around the three Rs: Respond; Reimagine; and Resilience. Their concept hangs on the strength of the resurgence of the Edinburgh Festivals after the COVID-19 pandemic.…”