Exploring the intangible impacts of cultural events on the creative sector: Experiences from the Cultural Olympiad programmes of Torino 2006 and London 2012

Abstract

This paper engages with the debates around the Olympic legacy by exploring the qualitative, intangible impacts of the Cultural Olympiad programme on local small creative firms in Torino, Italy and London, UK. The research objectives are achieved through a qualitative study of local small creative firms' perceptions of the impacts of the Olympic Games' cultural programme on their activities. To achieve this, Torino 2006 and London 2012 are used as case studies. The findings of this exploratory study show that cultural events can impact the creative sector. They do this by providing opportunities for mutual learning and access to initiatives which may generate ideas and new skills, as well as contributing to the development of a creative field. The study also explores the weaknesses and missed opportunities linked to the Cultural Olympiad programme, as perceived by creative practitioners. These include the lack of information and failure to engage smaller businesses.Based on qualitative analysis and discussion, recommendations for future organisers and further research are provided.2

Changing mega-events’ spatial strategies and cultural policy: scaling down, spacing out, and assembling organizations in the cases of London and Milan

“…An artistic or cultural component has accompanied the Olympic Games in some form for over 100 years (García 2017 ). However, despite this longevity and notable examples of cities that promoted the Cultural Olympiad such as Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games and the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games (Pappalepore 2016 ; Stevenson 1997 ), few host cities have framed the Cultural Olympiad as a key element in their delivery of the Games. London especially highlighted the Cultural Olympiad within their original bid and expanded the event to a four-year programme.…”

“…Yet Abrams and Parker-Starbuck also question the relevance of the cultural programme to supporting the local communities negatively impacted by the Olympic Games, particularly those in East London who were relocated to make way for the construction of new venues (ibid.). As with many cultural mega-events, there was also the debate between the building up of local cultural resources versus the displaying of invited international talent along with the divide between so called ‘high’ and ‘low’ artforms (Pappalepore 2016 ).…”

“…Generally speaking, local cultural actors and operators involved claimed to benefit from the presence of the Cultural Olympiad by providing new opportunities, work and networks that they might not otherwise have developed (Pappalepore 2016 ). Despite legacy being a highly discussed and promoted aspect of the 2012 London Cultural Olympiad, there is not a clear, definite continuation of the programme in terms of ongoing activities or even presence of a governance body.…”

Creating knowledge spillovers through knowledge-based festivals: the case of Mantua, Italy

“…Within the knowledge economy, the interconnectedness of cultural events makes them important not only as occasions of physical encounters in the network society, but also as carriers of ideas and catalysts for knowledge creation. In fact processes of cross-fertilisation within cultural events may indeed stimulate the circulation of knowledge and ideas by creating new relationships and exchanges that impact on both individual and collective learning (de Geus, Richards & Toepoel, 2016;Pappalepore, 2014). Furthermore, the sedimentation of this knowledge may play a key role in creating distinctiveness and innovation in a region.…”