Can grassroots festivals serve as catalysts to connect and empower youth in urban informal settlements? A case study of art festivals in Indonesian kampungs
International Journal of Tourism Cities
ISSN: 2056-5607
Article publication date: 11 January 2022
Issue publication date: 31 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine how young residents in two Indonesian kampungs (urban informal settlements) participate in two grassroots art festivals and to what extent their participation affects their capacity and network.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a qualitative method. The data collection were done in 2017 and took the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 respondents in two kampungs, Kampung Dago Pojok, Bandung, and Kampung Bustaman, Semarang.
Findings
The results show that the grassroots festival can empower youth throughout its process while also influencing their networks. The festival could act as the catalyst for youth to gain event management skills and exchange cultural knowledge. This study also found that there are two sides the art festivals can bring to the youth regarding their network: while the festival was able to develop their internal and external network, it also led to social division within the community.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper lies in the context of the research where it contributes to understanding the implications of community-based art festivals in the developing context, particularly in the low-income informal settlements. The paper’s content also provides insights that festivals can also be understood as more than place marketing or branding but as collections of steps and efforts of the community to provide meaningful actions for their place and people.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank all of the research participants in Kampung Bustaman and Dago Pojok, whose support and generosity made this research possible.
Funding: Research funding was provided by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).
Citation
Akbar, P.N.G. (2022), "Can grassroots festivals serve as catalysts to connect and empower youth in urban informal settlements? A case study of art festivals in Indonesian kampungs", International Journal of Tourism Cities, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 168-186. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-12-2020-0286
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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