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Abstract There has been an increasing level of recognition of the interaction between cultural mega-events and built heritage in recent years. While research has broadly identified the need to align strategies and visions, as well as involve heritage actors and local communities, there has not been a systematic investigation of the position of industrial heritage within this tableau. This paper examines in depth the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) programme, as it is one of the longest standing Capital of Culture programmes in the world and has a significant record of investment and urban transformation. In this paper, we survey and categorise the inclusion of industrial heritage within the ECoC programme in 36 host cities and regions spread across Europe. This research provides the most comprehensive understanding to date of the specific forms of interaction between industrial heritage and ECoCs to better understand the kinds of relationships that have taken place. We then explore in detail the projects and decisions made in the cases of the 2023 Elefsina, 2017 Pafos and 2008 Liverpool ECoCs.

The aim of this paper is to determine the interdependence between allocations to culture and the satisfaction of citizens with the programme content of theatres in the city of Rijeka, the 2020 European Capital of Culture. Of the ten hypotheses formulated in the paper, five are accepted and five, rejected. This study has applied several scientific methods, in particular the methods of descriptive and inferential statistics (correlation analysis, t-test, ANOVA). The principle finding of this paper indicates that the level of satisfaction of Rijeka's citizens with allocations to culture, sports and social activities and, consequently, with allocations to theatres, is low. The satisfaction of citizens with the theatres' programme contents is statistically more significantly determined by demographic variables than by satisfaction with allocations to culture, sport and social activities.

The study aims to clarify how social positioning and modes of cultural participation shape the meanings people attach to the European Capital of Culture Wrocław 2016 initiative. The authors analyse both quantitative and qualitative evidence for narratives on ECOC, drawing on data collected in a survey (N = 1000) in 2017 and qualitative group interviews (10 FGIs) in 2016 and 2017. A literature-based narrative on the ECOC legacy is first reconstructed as a point of reference. Local perspectives on ECOC 2016 are derived from a representative survey and in-depth qualitative analysis to reveal bottom-up perspectives on what ECOC 2016 was. The paper examines the relationship between ECOC's values and the socioeconomic and sociocultural characteristics of city residents who support and oppose it, to determine how ECOC's values are related to class dimensions of social positioning and modes of cultural participation. The paper concludes that ways of understanding and narrating ECOC are derived primarily from cultural practices. Socio-demographic variables are of secondary importance. Both affirmative narratives of ECOC's achievements in cultural policy and critical accounts can be viewed as informative markers of who and how perceives cultural policy successes and failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an increasing level of recognition of the interaction between cultural mega-events and built heritage in recent years. While research has broadly identified the need to align strategies and visions, as well as involve heritage actors and local communities, there has not been a systematic investigation of the position of industrial heritage within this tableau. This paper examines in depth the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) programme, as it is one of the longest standing Capital of Culture programmes in the world and has a significant record of investment and urban transformation. In this paper, we survey and categorise the inclusion of industrial heritage within the ECoC programme in 36 host cities and regions spread across Europe. This research provides the most comprehensive understanding to date of the specific forms of interaction between industrial heritage and ECoCs to better understand the kinds of relationships that have taken place. We then explore in detail the projects and decisions made in the cases of the 2023 Elefsina, 2017 Pafos and 2008 Liverpool ECoCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the Europeanisation processes that take place in the post-socialist Eastern European space, focusing on the case of Timisoara, Romania. In the analysed case, the adoption of EU cultural policies is instrumental in driving economic growth and urban development. The study focuses on how EU cultural policies integrate into the urban regeneration strategies, aiming to make cities more attractive to the creative classes who usually have higher consumption capacities and are key actors in urban development. Timișoara’s designation as one of the cities to hold the European Capital of Culture title in 2023 and its hosting of the Art Encounters Biennial amplify these dynamics by bringing upfront the capitalist market logic within the cultural field. In this context, there is also observed a subtle withdrawal of state’s responsibility in the act of educating and mediating the public, while private institutions are increasingly taking over this role. Overall, the paper showcases the shift towards a neoliberal orientation within the local cultural strategy while also underlining its effects within the two mega-events analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Spatial Politics in Istanbul: Turning Points in Contemporary Turkey" by Courtney Dorroll and Philip Dorroll explores the debates surrounding urban aesthetics, historical legacies, and political identities in Istanbul and Turkey. The authors focus on four key moments in the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) tenure between 2010 and 2020 to trace the shift from a relatively pluralistic, inclusive political ideology to a monumental, neo-imperial Sunni-Turkish hegemony. The book examines the impact of events such as Istanbul's selection as European Capital of Culture in 2010, the Gezi demonstrations of 2013, the attempted coup of 2016, and the reconversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque in 2020. The authors argue that these events reflect the AKP's transformation and its embrace of "Erdoğan-ian Neo-Ottomanism." The book raises important questions about the definition of Istanbul's identity and the exclusionary nature of defining the city solely by its Ottoman past. [Extracted from the article]

This editorial from the journal "Conjunctions" explores the theme of participation in cultural activities. It discusses the event "Raising the Barn," where community members were invited to help construct a temporary venue for a festival. The editorial raises questions about the authenticity of participation and the implications of involving non-experts in delivery. It also examines the tensions and unintended consequences of participation in urban planning and cultural institutions. The document emphasizes the need for critical discourse on participation and introduces the papers in the special issue. It discusses the imbalances of power and accountability in participatory arts projects, particularly for socially engaged artists. The text highlights the limitations of arts funding and the fear of reputational damage that prevent artists from discussing failure in cultural participation. It also explores the complexities of cultural participation and its relationship with democracy, noting that participation can be manipulated to serve certain agendas and exclude marginalized communities. The text emphasizes the importance of questioning the norms and rules of cultural participation and addressing the challenges that arise in participatory practices. It includes case studies and perspectives that examine participation in different contexts. The text also discusses the interplay between cultural norms and individual creativity in audience participation, using an example from Danisinni, Sicily. It suggests that allowing audiences to decide how they want to participate can lead to unique cultural experiences and a more authentic approach. The text acknowledges the contributions of speakers, attendees, and peer reviewers to the special issue on participation. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article explores the challenges and opportunities faced by Greek theater in the context of contemporary Europe. It discusses the impact of the economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic on Greek theater, leading to closures and cancellations. Despite these challenges, Greek theater remains active and diverse, with a range of productions and genres. Funding, working conditions, and theater education are ongoing issues, but there is a strong will among theater practitioners to work towards a better future. The article also highlights the need for collaboration, connection, and empowerment within the theater community, rather than competition and critique. It introduces influential Greek theater professionals and their accomplishments, and emphasizes the importance of promoting and studying contemporary Greek dramaturgy. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Tourism & Rural Development Studies / Turisztikai és Vidékfejlesztési Tanulmányok is the property of CampInvest Kft. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this paper is to determine the interdependence between allocations to culture and the satisfaction of citizens with the programme content of theatres in the city of Rijeka, the 2020 European Capital of Culture. Of the ten hypotheses formulated in the paper, five are accepted and five, rejected. This study has applied several scientific methods, in particular the methods of descriptive and inferential statistics (correlation analysis, t-test, ANOVA). The principle finding of this paper indicates that the level of satisfaction of Rijeka's citizens with allocations to culture, sports and social activities and, consequently, with allocations to theatres, is low. The satisfaction of citizens with the theatres' programme contents is statistically more significantly determined by demographic variables than by satisfaction with allocations to culture, sport and social activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the process of festivalization of the contemporary city, which leads not only to a reconstruction of the lifestyle, but also to a change of basic characteristics of the festivals themselves - both their own nature and the understanding of them. In the postmodern city, due to significant structural changes in its economy, services are becoming a leading industry. This directs the efforts of local authorities and businesses towards the development of tourism and the stimulation of leisure industries. The phenomenon of „new urban festivals“, understood as part of the creative economy, is emerging. „Urban marketing“ turns the city into an event center where festivals are a daily occurrence. Gradually, not only leisure, which has been transformed into a kind of „festival consumption“, but also the lifestyle, which is captive to consumer culture, commercialization and endless events, are becoming festivalized. The understanding of a festival is also being rethought, as the latter loses the „exclusivity“ and festivity attributed to it as essential characteristics: it becomes an everyday and mass event, an „endless series of events“. Local festivals, as expressions of the activity of the local community, of its identity and solidarity between local people, become an arena of business initiatives and interests. Thus, they lose their socially significant role both in the lifestyle of individuals and for the community. Often, in order to justify or disguise the business orientation of local festivals, emphasis is placed on their role in the development of local culture, on their supposed educational functions or charitable activities. The text examines the festivalization of Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria. The city has all the features to become a center of festival industries: a rich history since ancient times, preserved archaeological monuments, important cultural sites from the Renaissance, museums, galleries, traditions in fine arts, music, theater, etc. In 2019, the city was the European Capital of Culture and since then it has become a center of festivalization and a typical example of the development of this process in Bulgarian society. In the article are analyzed some of the results of an empirical sociological survey carried out with qualitative methods within the project „Local festivals: a resource of local communities to deal with crises“ financed by the Scientific Research Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science (KP-06-H45/5 of 30.11.2020). It is about indepth interviews with festival organizers, representatives of local government, local business and NGOs conducted in the period June-October 2021 and during the summer of 2023, as well as participated observations of festivals. A number of documents were also studied, such as cultural programs of the municipality, programs of local festivals, interviews of festival organizers and local administrators in the media, and other sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around the beginning of the 2000s, among various responses to the crisis in traditional opera, a few Western theatres and festivals started to propose community operas based on the involvement of professional and amateur performers as co-creators. This article traces the idea back to the pre-Second World War United States and its more general use from the 1950s onwards, although it carried with it the negative connotation of being the naive output of amateur singers and musicians. The term reappeared in the United Kingdom in a series of works put on between 1990 and 2005, especially by the composer Jonathan Dove at Glyndebourne and in other British regions. All of these were presented as 'community opera'. Among other ventures similar to the 'new' community opera in the British style, La Monnaie theatre in Brussels became the first European important opera house to start a program of community operas as a staple part of its season. The first one, Orfeo and Majnun (2018), defined as 'a participative opera', assembled myths from both Western and Persian cultures and whose music combined Western and Middle-Eastern elements. Immediately after, the first Italian community opera, Silent City, was produced in 2019 in the then European Capital of Culture Matera, establishing a new model of opera centred on social inclusion and involving people with disabilities. This article is aimed at defining the origins of community opera and at exploring similar phenomena around the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the uneven territorial growth of the smart city phenomenon and how the national and local spatial politics of urban smart projects work out in practice. While in previous decades the concept of smart city referred mainly to the digital and technological realm as an indicator of the performance of cities, today it is taking on a broader range of meanings, so as to also cover such areas as governance, environment, housing and people. However, the critical literature on smart cities highlights two potential disadvantages: firstly, that urban planners who decide to pursue a smart city vision run the risk of creating a kind of power and control over residents; and secondly that there appears to be an incompatibility between smart cities and the informal. Moreover, the spatial and the critical dimensions of the governance of urban smart projects are still insufficiently researched. By using a comparative and developmental quantitative methodology for the urban smart projects of Romania and taking the city of Timisoara as a case study, this study highlights the fact that large cities are not always the best represented; our findings show that peripheral small cities and towns may enjoy a more balanced distribution of smart projects. Furthermore, our evaluation of the spatial distribution (centre–periphery) of smart city projects in Timişoara—a European Capital of Culture in 2023—reveals a higher level of investment in smart projects in its urban periphery. By presenting new critical understandings of the spatial interrelationships of smart city development, the study contributes to the geography of smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the article is to develop a methodology of city ranking based on the criterion of a city's brand image among its inhabitants. Research Design & Methods: The article discusses the utilization of the multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM) to create a ranking of European capitals. It explores the significance of the decision-making approach in establishing a linear order among 28 capital cities within the European Union. The study employs the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for evaluation purposes. By leveraging publicly accessible indicators that gauge the perception of various aspects of a city's brand by its residents, this method facilitates the generation of a comprehensive ranking. Findings: The top five positions in the ranking are occupied by the following cities: Brussels, Sofia, Berlin, London and Stockholm. Ljubljana, Prague and Helsinki were ranked lowest. Implications & Recommendations: The ranking built for the purpose of this article, has managerial implications. It can serve as a valuable re-source for territorial managers, communication experts, urban planners, and decision-makers involved in the cities' enhancement and promotion. By utilizing this ranking, they can gain insights into the level of attractive-ness and competitiveness of different cities. Furthermore, it enables them to establish measurable strategic objectives for the development of their respective cities. This information empowers these stakeholders to make informed decisions, implement improvements, and enhance the overall value of their cities. Contribution & Value Added: The article employed ideal solution-based multi-criteria decision-making techniques to evaluate the brand image of cities as perceived by their inhabitants. We selected seven criteria to build the ranking showing the diversity in terms of residents' satisfaction with living in the city in the following areas: environment and recreation, refinement and diversity, municipal facilities, public services, employment opportunities, cost-effectiveness, and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing interest with different aspects of event experience measurement and meaning has resulted in establishing an Event Experience Scale (EES) which has been used for quantitative comparative research on events. The aim of this work is to compare event experiences of participants in multiple cultural events during Special Weekends offered as part of ECOC Wrocław 2016. EES is applied to capture variations across the social categories of participants and across different types of events. This study is based on quantitative data collected from January till December 2016, using self-completion online surveys. The size of the sample was N = 3402. The study fills a gap in event experience studies by comparing cultural event experiences happening over a longer period and grasping the changing contexts of events attended by varied audiences. Results support the importance of affective and cognitive dimensions and boost the importance of novelty dimension, at the same time, the study refutes previous studies on more positive event experiences of people with higher economic and social status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Klaic Effect: Dragan Klaić’s Expert Cooperation with Lublin in the European Capital of Culture Competition and the City’s Peripherality Culture and theatre critic Dragan Klaić was invited to be an expert collaborator with Lublin during the city’s participation in the 2016 European Capital of Culture competition. In this work, I analyse the researcher’s contribution to the preparation of Lublin’s candidature. I focus on the category of peripherality, which is very important both in Dragan Klaić’s thought and in the context of the city itself. I conclude by stating that Klaić’s projects, through which he proposed ways to both overcome the city’s negative peripherality and to exploit the presence of its positive sides, are still waiting to be realised. Efekt Klaicia. Współpraca ekspercka Dragana Klaicia z Lublinem w konkursie na Europejską Stolicę Kultury a peryferyjność miasta Krytyk kultury oraz teatru Dragan Klaić został zaproszony do współpracy eksperckiej z Lublinem podczas udziału miasta w konkursie o tytuł Europejskiej Stolicy Kultury 2016. W tej pracy analizuję wkład badacza w przygotowanie kandydatury Lublina. Skupiam się na kategorii peryferyjności, która jest bardzo ważna zarówno w myśli Dragana Klaicia, jak i w kontekście samego miasta. W zakończeniu stwierdzam, że projekty Klaicia, w których proponował on zarówno sposoby przezwyciężenia negatywnej peryferyjności miasta, jak i wykorzystania jej pozytywnych stron, wciąż czekają na swoją realizację.

In Europe, building transnational networks has become a crucial means for realizing bottom-up Europeanization and implementing the European Union (EU) policy at the grassroots. The value of transnational networks lies in clarifying political exchanges, decision making and policy transfer below the EU level. As a core element of the EU's cultural action, the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) is an important vehicle to promote transnational cooperation. However, whether in theory or practice, transnational networks among ECOC host cities have not received much attention from academia. Based on a qualitative meta-analysis, this study offers a holistic overview of the experiences of the ECOC programme over 40 years. It aims to answer two sets of research questions: (1) What types of transnational networks have been established among ECOCs? How do they operate? What functions do they have, and what are their impacts and limitations? (2) How do these transnational networks reflect the multilayered nature of European governance and the dynamics of Europeanization? Through this article, ECOC research can have a closer relationship with recent innovations in disciplines that are studying the EU's political and societal processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Capital of Culture (ECoC), as a long-term cultural initiative of the European Union, has inevitably become intertwined with tourism development in designated cities. For almost four decades, mediumsized and small cities across Europe have been allowed to shift their local economies towards creativity and cultural tourism, driven by the ECoC title, with different cities achieving different levels of success. Since the 1990s, the ECoC initiative has followed the EU's trends, resolutions, and recommendations. The mid2000s, 2010s, and early 2020s have given the trend a new drive with a more procedural approach in the ECoC bidding process. Sustainable development is one of the EU’s main strategic goals in the new era, and sustainable tourism has also influenced the ECoC initiative, making it one of the key priorities. This paper analyses the concepts of modern cultural tourism and the phenomena of over-tourism and sustainable tourism, especially in the ECoC context. Research methodology is based on secondary sources, including scientific papers, bid books and other official documents drawn up by ECoC cities and ECoC reports. The paper seeks to recognise and systematise the changes in cultural tourism trends in the ECoC context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses two art exhibitions held in Timișoara in 2023: "Different Degrees of Freedom" at Kunsthalle Bega and "Chronic Desire" at Comenduirea Garnizoanei. The author provides a critical review of the exhibitions, noting the conceptual and interactive design of "Different Degrees of Freedom" and the challenges of displaying art in the decrepit space of Comenduirea Garnizoanei. The author also reviews the exhibitions of artists Paul Neagu and Victor Brauner at the National Museum of Art Timișoara, expressing disappointment with the exhibition design for Neagu's works but praising the collaboration with Centre Pompidou for Brauner's exhibition. Overall, the author believes that these exhibitions deserved attention and highlights the importance of having a consistent collection of art by Romanian artists at an international level. [Extracted from the article]

For sustainability purposes, steel reuse at the material, structural element, and structure levels has been proposed and encouraged in recent years. Designing for deconstruction or disassembly is identified as one key strategy. A recent RFCS (Research Fund for Coal and Steel) project – REDUCE – has investigated the methodology and opportunities to design and facilitate the reuse of composite structures in steel frames. Furthermore, a demonstration building – the Pavilion "Petite Maison" – has been constructed using the solutions developed within REDUCE. The "Petite Maison" is located in Esch‐sur‐Alzette, Luxembourg, and it contributes to Esch2022, European Capital of Culture, by promoting circularity, reuse, and sustainability. It is open to public visits and is planned to be deconstructed with elements being tracked for reuse. This paper presents the design concept of the structural system of the "Petite Maison", proposals of standard and modular elements and kits, and the analyzing methods for adaptable steel connections and demountable shear connections that are applied in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Petite Maison" is a collaborative architectural project on the theme of circularity in construction within the Esch2022, European Capital of Culture, in Luxembourg. Focusing on a similar concept, the RFCS project "REDUCE" has previously worked out the structural and environmental analysis of a modularized construction approach to evaluate and highlight the benefits of a reusable, circular steel structure. As a follow up to this project, CoCo Project (Carbon Counting and Projection) currently occupies with the determination of suitable routes to point out low‐carbon emission scenarios for the construction sector considering especially steel and steel composite solutions as well as prefabricated structural elements, which may be in concrete or timber. In other words, the project aims to demonstrate the impact of circular economy objectives in the load bearing building structures, considering majorly columns and flooring solutions containing concrete slabs, Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), and steel beams. In this article, the environmental performance of Petite Maison flooring system, as a case study, is investigated in detail. Different scenarios are defined for steel elements to quantify the environmental impacts and to emphasise the benefits of modular and reusable structural components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timișoara has won in 2016 the title of European Capital of Culture for 2021 (ECC), but due to pandemic reasons, the title was postponed for 2023. There were made several sociological researches, before and after decision, concerning the public interest for this program. In this paper we make a comparative analysis on the evolution of the population’s interest for this program during a decade. For this we have used the databases from the studies made in 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023. The main conclusion is that the population’s interest has a strong connection with the public policy concerning this program. So, if at the beginning, the involving of the public administration and the population support was very high, after obtaining the title, the problems from the inside management of the program have generated a significant decrease of the public support. The slight shift in perspective occurred right before 2023, year in which the situation was partially solved due to the rising interest of both the locals and tourists towards the various cultural events. Regardless of the current tendencies, we still have to wait until the program is finished in order to make a proper evaluation, that will be included into the next sociological research of the TmECC2023 program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the challenges posed by the early discourse of the creative city in the case of Patras, a regional city of Greece and European Capital of Culture in 2006 before the prolonged economic crisis in Greece. We focus on the relevance and the forms of cultural creation and artistic networking for the creative city rather than on innovation hubs and technological creativity. We develop a qualitative study of culture creatives in the city to examine the potential of local cultural and artistic agents, social groups and institutions to enhance networking and clustering in the urban milieu, which is also influenced or distorted by city planning capacities and politics. The culture management study identifies several constraints and frictions related to the potential transformation of cultural networks to clusters and analyzes the relevance of cultural lag in the literature of creative cities and urban regeneration. The constraints are discussed within a framework of cultural and institutional lag, which characterize city stakeholders. The study identifies practices that enable organizational facilitation and capacity for proactive culture creation, creative networking and potential clustering. Those activities support culture-led socio-economic urban regeneration planning and inspire the potential making of a creative city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the conceptualization and expression of cultural diversity and unity within the European Capitals of Culture (ECOC) initiative using a case study approach. Previous case studies have examined the impacts of the programmes from a single-city perspective and used quantitative and economic-focused approaches to evaluate impact. However, the ECOC initiative was intended to showcase the diverse cultures in Europe rather than focus on economic outcomes. A cultural discourse analysis was applied to eight winning cities between 2015 and 2019 (proceeding the onset of COVID-19) to answer the question: are ECOC focusing on expressing their national or regional diversity and identities or are they communicating a more generalized European perspective? The results showed that in the past five-year ECOCs have chosen to engage in more diverse and localized forms of cultural expression in their events, but not in their visual communications. Based on the analysis, a series of recommendations for future programme development are made (also published as a separate policy brief) to enhance ECOC's ability to balance the communication of their diversity with their connection to Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid reality (HR) in cultural heritage is mainly conceptual, and its exploitation in cultural heritage and museums remains an under-investigated topic. This research aims to shed light on the experimenting role of HR as an alternative soft-technological approach in cultural heritage virtual reconstruction, which enhance visitors' experience and satisfaction. A quantitative survey methodology was employed to analyse the 'Peasant Civilization Park', a project based on HR invisible projections installed in the Vicinato a Pozzo Museum, in the thousand-year-old city Matera (Italy) – European Capital of Culture 2019. Findings and conclusions open up innovative scenarios on the HR in cultural heritage, driving the identification of alternative museum business models and new museum immersive experiences. Managerial implications suggest how HR improves heritage exhibition management, rethinking experiential value proposition and visitors' satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European cities compete for the status of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC), as it is proven to enhance city visibility and the profile of cultural events in the city; it also allows addressing issues of strategic cultural development of the successful candidate. Importantly, the status comes with an explicit requirement to ensure sufficient public participation in developing the bid and implementing the cultural programme. Prior research demonstrates that meaningful participation is not easy to achieve; the research on that aspect is considered scarce. The article aims to analyse the interpretation of public participation, its challenges and shaping factors as seen by ECoC bid-producing teams. The main research question is "What did the bid development process uncover about the capacity of bid-producing teams to foster public participation in the Latvian cities - ECoC finalists?". The current paper examines the challenge of participation encountered in the process of developing the bid for the second round of ECoC 2027 by three applying cities in Latvia. The study was carried out between October 2022 and March 2023 using qualitative methodology. The theoretical starting point of the study is the fourpart framework of factors influencing participation by Kaifeng Yang and Sanjay K. Pandey [Yang & Pandey 2011]. The study suggests that these factors are indeed useful in conducting an analysis of participation. In addition, the study supports the prior conclusions of scholarly literature pointing out that more nuanced language is needed to interpret participation and participants. The article pays special attention to the nuances of digital participation and the organisational characteristics of the public body in charge of participation in cultural planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Space & Society / Tér és Társadalom is the property of Centre for Economic & Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigated the attitude of young people (individuals aged 14–25 years old) towards environmental protection using the NEP scale. The research aims to understand how demographic characteristics may influence young people's attitudes toward green issues. The study focuses on answering the following two research questions: Q1. How can the environmental attitudes of young individuals be systematically characterized and summarized? Q2. To what extent do demographic factors influence the environmental attitudes of young individuals? A computer-assisted data collection (CAPI) method was carried out in four European Capital of Culture cities from different countries (Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania) from April to June 2022. On the basis of this primary questionnaire survey, descriptive statistics and relationship analyses (Cramer's V and Kendall's tau) were used to analyze the collected data (n = 712). The results revealed that in most cases, demographic characteristics had little or no impact at all on green attitudes. Thus, most youth attitudes showed the concept that humanity must adapt to the limits of nature. Furthermore, there were three green attitude statements where moderate differences could be detected by the countries. The findings can provide guidance for decision-makers in the field of environmental education and marketing, and they can also serve as a benchmark for other countries. Additionally, it opens up new opportunities for further research on the role of formal and informal education, as well as to measure the impact of social media on youth environmental behavior and their proactivity towards green issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Explore the recent evolution of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) program in terms of both selection criteria and the profiles of the cities nominated to become a one-year cultural capital of Europe Design/methodology/approach: The case study was used as the research method. In this research, the case of the ECoC program was presented as a chance for European cities aiming at creating their competitive position based on culture and creativity. The authors have identified three subsequent periods in the evolution of the ECoC and concentrated on identifying the differences between them, referring to selection criteria and the characteristics of the awarded cities. Findings: The evolution of the ECoC formula shifts toward European cities with better recognition of intangible heritage, smaller size, and lower administrative status. Possessing the tangible heritage assets is not the leading advantage anymore, and the chances of success are bigger for locations which had not been recognized before as cultural centers. Research limitations/implications: The study is based on desk research, and no qualitative research was conducted. Therefore, the interviews with the city marketers involved in the celebration of the ECoC should be included in further studies for deepening the issue. Practical implications: The paper draws some implications for practice for city marketers aiming at improving the international recognition of the city under the cultural label. The call for the next nominations of the ECoC is open for Czech, French, Polish, and Swedish cities, and soon it will be a case for Cyprus, Belgium, Malta, Spain, Bulgaria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Italy. Originality/value: The paper identifies the current trends in designation of the ECoC; it covers the unique description of the nominated cities from the selected categories, which enables to assess the chances to be nominated in the incoming calls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tourism & Rural Development Studies / Turisztikai és Vidékfejlesztési Tanulmányok is the property of CampInvest Kft. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tourism & Rural Development Studies / Turisztikai és Vidékfejlesztési Tanulmányok is the property of CampInvest Kft. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tourism & Rural Development Studies / Turisztikai és Vidékfejlesztési Tanulmányok is the property of CampInvest Kft. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tourism & Rural Development Studies / Turisztikai és Vidékfejlesztési Tanulmányok is the property of CampInvest Kft. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Eye-tracking technologies have matured significantly in recent years and have become more affordable and easier to use. We investigated how eye-tracking technology can be applied to evaluate the usability of mobile augmented reality applications with historical images for urban cultural heritage. The experiment involved a series of complex user evaluation sessions, combining semi-structured interviews, observations, think-aloud protocol, SUS questionnaire, and product reaction cards, complemented by eye tracking, to gather insights on the Spotlight Timisoara AR mobile application, part of a digital storytelling multiplatform for the city of Timisoara (Romania), soon to be European Capital of Culture in 2023. The results indicate strong and weak aspects of the application, both as expressed by the participants and as derived from analyzing the eye-tracking data. The paper also lists the main challenges we identified in using eye-tracking equipment to evaluate the usability of such mobile augmented reality applications for urban outdoor heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the impacts of hosting the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) by the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv in 2019 through the lens of the local community. Based on a survey conducted in 2021 with 444 residents, the perceived effects of the initiative were discussed in four domains: (1) Cultural, (2) Economic, (3) Social, and (4) Urban environment and atmosphere. Descriptive statistics techniques and analysis of variance were applied to interpret the data and outline the differences in the perceptions affected by respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics. The findings indicate that in general, the ECOC impacts are perceived rather positively, although the locals are hesitant if benefits outweigh the costs incurred. None of the impacts is perceived as high by the survey participants, with mean values of agreement hardly reaching four on a 5-grade scale. The most recognized positive effects refer to the city’s cultural life and the opportunities for local artists to perform; next come benefits for tourism development and promotion along with improvements in urban environment and infrastructure resulting from the ECOC implementation. Less clearly perceived are negative effects such as the price rise and the preference given to tourists over the locals. Significant differences in perceptions are determined by respondents’ education, personal involvement in the ECOC organization, age, gender, and sphere of professional activity. However, such differences are found in roughly half of all 22 statements under study, meaning that certain perceptions depend on the socio-demographic profile while others do not.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on numerous industries, including the event industry, resulting in widespread disruptions. The widespread cancellations of festivals have been a direct consequence of the pandemic, and, following the reopening, those that have taken place have had to implement changes in response to the new guidelines and regulations created as a result of the pandemic. In this study, we examine the experiences of festivals held in 2021 in the Veszprém–Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture region (VEB 2023 region). The study aims to adapt the PwC Risk Management Model and identify its four pillars (1: detect; 2: protect; 3: react; 4: restore) in the case of festivals. Our study outlines how festival organizers have faced unprecedented challenges and risks (detect), how they survived in complete uncertainty (protect), what lessons they learned, and what risk management decisions they made as a challenge of the pandemic period from a consumer perspective (react). The present study utilized a qualitative research methodology and involved conducting structured interviews with a total of 19 event organizers from five different events. In addition, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sustainable consumption habits of festival visitors, a questionnaire survey was administered yielding 1133 responses. The biggest challenges for the organizers during the times of the pandemic were uncertainty and unpredictability, with increased financial, human, and mental risks and burdens. However, the positive benefits of the pandemic period and the future developmental directions of sustainable festivals were also highlighted (e.g., small-scale, family-friendly events). Regarding the future, the aspects of greening aspirations, a need to reflect on the social-environmental criteria of sustainability, and more flexible management decisions to deal with uncertainty have emerged among the festival organizers (restore). The research has revealed that festival visitors themselves will be important allies in the introduction of sustainable measures. The research result helps festival organizers to adapt more effectively to the new socio-economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]