UWS: FestivalsConnect
Insights from a research project into the power of events conducted by the University of the West of Scotland as part of the Moments To Connect fund.
FestivalsConnect was a research project conducted by the University of the West of Scotland. A part of our Moments To Connect fund, the project looks at three levels of events in Scotland at the macro, meso and micro level to understand how festivals and events can be used to strengthen EDI outcomes.
The FestivalsConnect project was undertaken in the Centre for Culture, Sport & Events (CCSE) at the University of the West of Scotland and led by Professor’s David McGillivray and Gayle McPherson with research support from Naheed Akhtar and Dr Sophie Mamattah.
EDI Playbook
A Playbook for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – developed by the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events at UWS – in partnership with Glasgow Life, funded by Spirit of 2012, and with contributions from Visit Scotland – aims to support those responsible for planning, organising and delivering festivals and events to embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) from the outset.
The Playbook focuses on four key dimensions for festival and event organisers when considering EDI: representation, design and programming, governance and resourcing and evaluating success. The Playbook highlights comprehensively how festival and event organisers can factor all four into their planning.
Evidence Review
The evidence review seeks to provide an accessible overview of the discussions and debates ongoing in the festivals and events field pertaining to EDI. The review will also offer insights into the ways that festivals and events might contribute to attaining EDI objectives alongside evidence of challenges which may be encountered and should be considered when seeking to achieve these ambitions.