Power, Hegemony, and relationships in the festival planning and construction process

Abstract

Purpose– This paper aims to develop an illustrative case study of power and hegemony involved inthe creation of a local community festival, through the representations of local communities’ culturesfrom various ethnic groups within the city of Derby.Design/methodology/approach– Drawing onobservationalanalysis ofthesteering groupandtheplanning forum processes, this paper will deconstruct the discourses utilised, deployed and reinventedin the Derby Jubilee Festival. Power is revealed as a pervasive and constructive set of forces that areboth enabling and disenfranchising.Findings– Thedefinitionsofculturesusedintheconstructionofthefestivalaredemonstratedtohavesignificant outcomes for the communities involved or to be excluded from the community festival.Furtherelaborateshowthepaperpositionsareconstructedonthebasisofdifferentdiscoursesofpower.Originality/value– Few studies have developed an analysis of power and hegemony withinfestivals. The study shows how the values inscribed within exclusive definitions of “culture” canexclude participation from community festivals.KeywordsFestivals, Communities, Multicultural societies, United KingdomPaper type