Online festival experiences, eventscapes and cultural value: insights on the dilemmas faced by two South African festivals during COVID-19

Figures & data

Table 1. From eventscapes to e-eventscapes.

Eventscape: Key factors/components	E-eventscapes: Key factors / components
Context: Physical festivalscape; geographically interlined areas	Context: Online platform/website; internet links to online content and activities; Usability and ease of navigability of platform / website
Event character and identity: Physical space, natural environment, host city, visual features and symbols	Event character and identity: Aesthetic appeal of online platform/website; Digital visual features and symbols
Social interactions: People present; services provided (servicescape); in-person social interactions with visitors, performers, service staff.	Social interactions: Online site interactivity through chat rooms, comment and question sections linked to webpages and live online webinars.
Outcomes for the host community: economic impact, pride, enhanced image, community connectedness etc.	Outcomes for the host community: Digital images and virtual ‘local’ spaces that mirror the physical festivalscape could enhance the pride and image of the host city.

Sources: Authors’ elaboration on Brown et al. (2015) and Bosworth (2021).

Figure 1. Film festival type and adaptation strategy. Source: Adapted from De Valck (2021).

Table 2. Audience survey respondent characteristics at the NAF and KKNK.

Respondents	NAF	KKNK
Number of respondents	138	192
Percentage South African	93%	100%
Home Language	English: 67%	Afrikaans: 94%
Age group: up to 35	28%	16%
Age group: 36–50	31%	23%
Age group: Older than 50	41%	61%
Post-school degree/diploma	80%	65%
First time attendance	13%	14%
1–3 Previous festivals	30%	16%
4 or more Previous festivals	57%	70%

Table 3. Audience participation at the NAF and KKNK.

Participation NAF	NAF	Participation KKNK	KKNK
Video on Demand	63%	Music productions	65%
Livestream	44%	Theatre productions	76%
The Fringe Live	36%	Pop up live concerts	32%
Standard Bank Jazz	26%	Teksmark	19%
Standard Bank Young Artists	14%
Workshops & Webinars	11%	Discussion series	23%
Exhibitions	9%	Virtual Gallery	35%
Virtual Green	8%	Market/Stalls on the e-commerce platform	43%
E Cape Showcase	3%

Figure 2. Audience ratings of festival events at the KKNK.

Figure 3. Audience ratings of festival events at the NAF.

Table 4. Overall audience ratings of festival experiences.

Overall Rating	NAF	KKNK
1 (Very poor)	5.0%	0.5%
2	9.0%	0.5%
3	21.0%	7.1%
4	32.0%	35.0%
5 (Excellent)	32.0%	56.8%

Figure 4. Participants’ experiences of the KKNK.

Table 5. Audience preferences for live, online and hybrid formats.

Comparison	NAF	KKNK
Definitely prefer the live event	57%	66%
Liked live, but online fun too	26%	27%
Liked aspects of online more than live	14%	4%
Definitely prefer the online event	3%	3%

Table 6. Audience social engagement during online festival participation.

Social Aspects	All	Younger	Older
National Arts Festival
‘Watch Party’ participation	44%	57%	38%
Watching with Friends/Family	41%	50%	37%
KKNK	Yes	No	Maybe
Chat functionality during shows	29%	33%	38%

Brown, G., I. Lee, K. King, and R. Shipway. 2015. “Eventscapes and the Creation of Event Legacies.” Annals of Leisure Research 18 (4): 510–527. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2015.1068187.

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De Valck, M. 2021. Vulnerabilities and Resiliency in the Film Ecosystem: Notes on Approaching Film Festivals in Pandemic Times. Configurations of Film Series. Pandemic Media. https://doi.org/10.14619/0085.

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