Festival management innovation and failure

TLDR

Limited literature exists on festival management innovation and failure, leaving managers with little guidance on which festival characteristics promote innovation or lead to failure. The study examines concepts, types, and implications of festival innovation and failure. The authors review existing literature and illustrate with three festival case studies how innovation and failure are simultaneous and interdependent in festival management. Festival managers have access to diverse innovations, yet these carry failure risks from resource constraints, weather, and managerial shortcomings, underscoring the need to balance innovation and risk mitigation for festival sustainability.

Abstract

Purpose The paper seeks to examine the concepts, types and implications of festival innovation and failure. Design/methodology/approach A review of extant literature is undertaken and examples of innovation and failure in three festivals are used to demonstrate the simultaneity and co‐dependency of innovation and failure in the process of festival management. Findings It is apparent that many forms of program, market, service, organisational and financial innovation are available to festival managers. Many involve risk of failure due to the resource dependency theory postulated in the literature, as well as more pragmatic reasons including bad weather and managerial incompetence. Practical implications Festival managers responses to the dual challenges of embracing innovation and avoiding failure will determine the future of festivals, so it is vital that knowledge is developed. Originality/value There is limited literature on festival management innovation and failure and limited information available to festival managers regarding the nature of festivals that facilitate innovation or failure. This paper makes an original contribution to these important issues in festival management.