Louis Jolin, professorIsabelle Marquis, doctoral student

Département d’études urbaines et touristiques,École des sciences de la gestion, UQAM

ARUC-ÉS

Mandate

Develop a standardized model that will allow the social impact of festivals and events to be evaluated.

This mandate was undertaken as part of the program of patnership activities focusing on « Recreation and Social Tourism » organized by ARUC-ES (university-community research alliance on social economy).

Objectives

The objectives were :

To help improve the social impact of festivals;

To consider the social dimension when evaluating the impact of festivals.

The steps in the project

ApproachLiterature review

Definition of conceptsImpacts vs repercussions

Meetings with representatives of various festivals

Proposal for development of a chart and a user’s guide

Approach (continued)

Validation by a steering committeeFestivals et Événements QuébecLoto-Québec

Pilot project9 respondents

Analysis of files

Final report

The study involved five major criteria, seventeen lesser criteria and numerous indicators.

Participation by citizensParticipantsVolunteersSocial cohesionDemocratic management

AccessibilityPhysicalTemporalEconomicCultural

Local DevelopmentPurchasesJobsPatnerships

Value to local culturePromotion of local and regional historyEnrichment of natural and cultural heritageNurturing of creativity

Infrastructure and Public Services

ConstructionSecurityHealth and noise pollution

Survey responses documented

Research not yet complete

In conclusion (continued)

One question remains: how to establish a way of assessing the social impacts?

A second phase of evaluation is to come.