ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the phenomenon of events and festivals at various scales – from the mega-events of EXPOs, European and UK Cities of Culture to more localised thematic festivals. The transformation of trade shows to popular cultural events for a wider audience is presented, including Open Studios and Architecture festivals creating new destinations and opportunities for artists and cultural producers. The process of event masterplanning considers the scale, visioning and urban imaginaries that drive and conceive the mega-event and its legacies, with reference to the EXPOs and Great Exhibitions of the past and their role in promoting international trade and industrial design. The extension of cultural events temporally is provided by the growth of Nuite Blanche festivals, originating in Paris but now held worldwide with museum nights, Open House and other venues embracing the night-time economy and providing a different experience and audience for cultural venues and sites. A review of the UK City of Culture programme, replacing the now out-of-reach European model, considers the findings from these events so far held in Derry, Hull and Coventry, and the mixed experience and opinions of the cultural impacts that they engender.
