Cultural Festivals — Definition

Definition

A cultural festival is a planned programme that presents artistic or cultural expression to an audience. It may include inherited traditions, contemporary work, workshops, crafts or discussion. Its organisers select participants, venues, schedules and forms of interpretation, so the event shapes representation as well as providing entertainment.

A festival’s founding year differs from the histories of the traditions and buildings associated with it. Evaluation should therefore consider who decides, who participates, how practitioners benefit and whether learning continues after the event, alongside audience size and tourism activity.