ABSTRACT
Social justice is not always understood in the same way around the world. However, broadly speaking it relates to equality, equity and rights. It is often conceptualised as being related to economic development opportunities, but in fact social justice is much broader than that. Festivals, and the tourism they bring, are often assumed to contribute to local economic development, and indeed, there is plenty of evidence for this. However, festivals also have the potential to contribute to a much greater range of local authority social justice policy objectives, including providing opportunities to locals for paid employment, extending community capacity through upskilling, providing opportunities to showcase diversity and multiculturalism (thereby promoting tolerance), and, last but not least, contributing to community well-being by providing residents with the opportunity to socialise and have fun. However, communities are not homogenous, and festivals may not always make the positive contribution to social justice goals that local authorities hope they will.
