Alexandros Vrettos Economic Impact of Arts & Culture Festivals A Comparative Analysis of 4 Economic Impact Studies European Festival Research Project Le Mans research workshop, 18 Nov 2006

“Seminci”, Valladolid-ES 2001 Brighton Festival (Hinge & Core)-UK 2004 East Midlands Cultural Festivals-UK Edinburgh Year Round Festivals-UK

Why a Comparison of Studies? Is the economic impact of the arts & culture festivals proven? Not many points of reference for the impact studies Not much information about what the cultural policies-subsidies are based on Need to “Investigate” the political will (?) Love for Festivals

This Comparative Analysis is not… An Analysis of the 4 Festivals An Evaluation of the 4 Impact Studies An elegiac manifest (or disparagement) of the importance of the festivals

Comparative Analysis The Objectives Similarities & differences of methodologies & concept/s of festivals’ economic impact analysis Detect festivals which have undergone an economic impact analysis Description & Documentation of 4 Studies Start creating a base of examples for future sustainable cultural policies

Festivals & the public authorities: “Universal Findings” All the EIAs were “governmentally” commissioned and financed All the examined festivals are subsidized by public funds

General Findings The 4 EIAs differ in almost every part of their structure Different & adjusted methodologies to local, regional & national standards The Midlands study calculated in monetary units the impact of the “use” of volunteers The definitions given about the main elements of an economic impact study differ or are not exactly given or are adjusted to respective needs No particular & common definition or methodology for the term/expression “Economic Impact of Arts & Culture Festivals” Classification of methodologies or sole definition are nearly impossible to reach for the time being

Findings The Economic Multiplier One study (Valladolid) created a multiplier based on their analysis Two studies (Edinburgh, Midlands) borow regional multipliers of tourism and development The Brighton study created a new item, named “contribution”. It resembles a multiplier, but it is not; there is no analysis of its meaning & the concept of its development

Findings The Employment Impacts Two studies (Valladolid & Brighton) did not take into consideration employment effects based on multipliers & did not make any special reference to employment matters The Midlands’ study provided numerical results, however the size of the multiplier and its development are not presented. The Edinburgh study behaved similarly to the Midlands one.

Findings about Calculations I Different statistical samples & different sizes of geographical regions No monetary value of the negative economies of the festivals No side effect analysis of any festival No exact calculation of food, drink & merchandizing incomes and costs within the festivals No consideration of the size of the audience that possibly adjusted or changed their program because of the festivals Different reasoning for market’s segmentation per study

Findings about Calculations II One study (Edinburgh) calculated the cost of the economic value of the press coverage of the festivals The Midlands suggested ways of how press coverage can be calculated No mentioning of free backstage attendees & calculation of the cost of free presence

Festivals Are Good & Nice All the EIAs come up with positive facts about the festivals’ impacts Only the Edinburgh accepted that “the net effect can be negative”…… they attempted to soften this negativity by mentioning the positive non economical profile of the festivals

Arts & Culture Festivals ??? No study clarifies if the impact is due to the ‘artistic’ character of the festivals or because they were a social event