Introduction to the special issue – cultural mega-events and heritage: challenges for European cities

ABSTRACT

The future of mega-events has never been more uncertain. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has introduced an unparalleled level of doubt regarding the kind of mega-events that will take place in the coming years. While the 2019 call for papers could not predict such a radical shock, this special issue arrives at a quite unique moment of reflection. Prior to 2020, cities were already questioning the traditional format of mega-events (e.g. Olympics and Expo) while other cultural mega-events have been spreading and gaining popularity, thanks in part to typically lower costs of infrastructures and venues, far more adaptable arrangements, spatial distribution and time frame for hosting. In these ways, they have already been demonstrating higher flexibility in which to respond to future health and safety constraints. When it comes to the relation to the existing city, cultural mega-events have been planned, implemented and studied far more than any other. By leveraging the richness of cultural mega-events, this special issue deepens the intersection between events and cultural heritage in particular. This introduction provides a theoretical framework that cuts across mega-event and heritage research fields. It introduces the questions and approaches of the following contributions, arguing that the nexus between mega-events and heritage is a key challenge for many cities in Europe and beyond.

KEYWORDS:

• Cultural heritage
• cultural mega-events
• European cities
• European Capital of Culture

Acknowledgments

The core ideas for this special issue derived from long-term research conducted in collaboration with Zachary M. Jones at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano. In particular, sections of this paper are based on the research conducted within the JPI Cultural Heritage research project ‘HOMEE – Heritage Opportunities/threats within Mega-Events in Europe’ (with a grant issued by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research) that explored similar problems and involved a number of the contributors to this issue. An earlier version of this introductory article was commented by Stefano Di Vita, Evanthia Dova, Zachary M. Jones, Jacek Purchla, Marina Rotolo, Angeliki Sivitanidou, Enrico Tommarchi and Tamara West whom the author wants to thank for their substantial input. The usual caveat applies.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The full text of the Charter can be downloaded here https://mck.krakow.pl/homee-charter.