FESTSPACE is a HERA-funded project which focuses on how festivals and events enable or restrict access to, and use of, public spaces, including the extent to which they might effectively host interactions and exchanges between people from different cultural, ethnic, socio-economic and socio-demographic backgrounds. It explores how festivals and events affect the inclusivity of Europe’s urban public spaces. With a focus on Western European cities (Glasgow, London, Dublin, Barcelona & Gothenburg) that are dealing with significant demographic changes arising from in-migration, the project seeks to contribute to closing research gaps, advancing theoretical and methodological approaches and, to create impact through close collaboration with influential academic and non-academic partners and stakeholders from across Europe. Over the next two years, the project will address three inter-related questions:

What different types of festive public space exists across Europe and what lessons can we learn about inclusivity from these models?
How do festivals and events affect who uses outdoor and indoor urban public spaces and how they interact within them?
What are the enduring effects on inclusivity of festivals and events staged in public spaces?

To launch FESTSPACE, we are hosting a day-long symposium comprising talks and facilitated discussions aimed at exploring some of the contemporary issues outlined above. Stakeholders from across the events, planning and participation spectrum are invited to participate in what we hope will be a day of insightful dialogue and debate.

Schedule

09:30 Registration and coffee (D137/9, Paisley Campus)

10:00 Introduction to FESTSPACE, Professor David McGillivray (D137/9, Paisley Campus)

10:30 Keynote address: Francesca Hegyi, Executive Director, Edinburgh International Festival

11:15 Panel Discussion: Designing Inclusive Festival and Event Spaces (Facilitated by Prof David McGillivray

Speakers:
Graham Ross, Austin Smith: Lord
Katie Duffy, Senior Projects, Programme and Festivals Manager, Glasgow Life
Leonie Bell, Paisley Partnership Strategic Lead
Michael Dale, West End Festival

12:15 Lunch and networking

13:00 Facilitated discussions with FESTSPACE project team Dr Bernadette Quinn, Dr Kristina Lindstrom, Dr Andrew Smith & Dr Alba Colombo on themes of:

Festivals, events and the identity of public space

Festivals, events and the sociability of public space

Festivals, events and the visibility of public space

16:00 Feedback

16:30 Next steps and staying involved

FESTSPACE: Festivals, Events & Inclusive Public Space, Symposium