Local festivals, social capital and sustainable destination development: experiences in East London

Abstract

This paper explores the nature of social capital ar ising from engagement in local fest ivals and the implications of this for the social sustainability of an emerging dest inat ion. Two case studies are developed from a longitudinal research project which investigates local festivals staged in the Hackney Wick and Fish Island area adjacent to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London, UK between 2008 and 2014. This area has been directly affected by extensive development and regeneration efforts associated with the staging of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The two fest ivals considered here respond to the challenges and opportunit ies ar ising for local people as the area changes. One fest ival aims to foster a sense of community by creat ing shared experiences and improving communication across diverse groups. The other draws together the cultural community, links them to the opportunities ar ising as the area emerges as a destinat ion, and attracts visitors. These fest ivals increase social capital in the area, but its distribut ion is very uneven. The accrual of social capital exacerbates existing inequalit ies within the host community, favouring the "haves" at the expense of the "have nots". There are tensions between the development of social capital and social sustainability in this emerging destinat ion.