Pages: 5

This chapter provides an introduction to and summary of the book.

Pages: 14

This chapter analyses the epistemological dynamics and creative inquiry characteristics in guiding researchers through the subjectiveness of visual and creative research using an analytical framework. By employing an arts-informed approach, the authors demonstrate the benefits of critical event visual analysis.

Pages: 18

This chapter focuses on research design aligned with overall research questions and proposes a creative technique for studying several festivals and/or a comprehensive account of different forms in a single festival. The chapter explores the use of multi-sited ethnography as an example of a creative methodology that can respond to the challenge of spatial/temporal de-centredness and multiple creative forms.

Pages: 16

Ethical considerations and approval are compulsory prior to data collection in any research process, and this is especially the case when adopting creative approaches to ensure research is carried out with the highest levels of integrity. This chapter examines this, drawing on the author’s own attempts to share the voices of marginalised communities by navigating the tensions between ethics committees’ expectations and pragmatic realities in the field.

Pages: 14

This chapter delves into the ethical challenges of critical events research, focusing on different creative methods for on-site qualitative data collection, including participant consent, at music festivals and which methodological pathways are the most ethical whilst also being the most effective in collecting useful data.

Pages: 18

This chapter focuses on the utilisation of sketch illustration and still life photography during observations of the management and production of an experimental film festival. The author’s research details the incorporation of creative methods of field documentation within virtual and in-person ethnographic research.

Pages: 15

This chapter focuses on researching arts and cultural festivals by utilising postcards as a tool for accessible data collection. Themes of nostalgia and storytelling are threaded throughout this study of memory making, and a discussion of considerations is proposed for those contemplating using postcards to engage with participants as a creative research method.

Pages: 12

This chapter interrogates the wider regenerative ambitions of Bad Ischl-Salzkammergut European Capital of Culture (ECC) 2024. On public transportation, as part of the ECC initiative, the author invites participants to respond in drawing to the question, “What does a postcard of the future Salzkammergut look like?” The artistic expression of drawing as a reflective and imaginative practice for research purposes contributes not only to the understanding of challenges and opportunities of this creative approach for critical event studies, but also can appraise the efficacy of the ECC agenda for urban regeneration and future placemaking.

Pages: 16

This chapter investigates strategies for using informal conversations when collecting qualitative research at live events. It elucidates how informal conversations are beneficial as an interactive and creative way to collect data from fans at sport and music events about their lived experiences and perspectives in the moment, offering rich and nuanced understanding of event participants’ experiences and interpretations as well as the event environment.

Pages: 17

It is through a participatory media research framework that this chapter engages with marginalised young people at a filmmaking event in an effort to contribute to understandings of complex social issues around events and festivals, particularly issues of accessibility, diversity, and creative and meaningful engagement.

Pages: 19

This chapter argues that social impact monitoring and evaluation is vital for understanding how larger events affect communities. Thus, from a research perspective, it makes sense for social impact monitoring and evaluation to involve local communities more fully in the research process. Based on the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, this chapter provides guidance to help future researchers achieve the benefits and reduce the challenges of co-creating research with local communities to maximise social impact benefits from big events.

Pages: 20

This chapter critically examines the author’s involvement as an action researcher in cross-cultural events, actively engaging in marketing Chinese theatre productions in the UK. Her experiences not only offer innovative insights into the creative application of action research methodology, but also yield practical initiatives within the industry by facilitating collaboration between researchers and practitioners to encourage knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

Pages: 13

This chapter reviews social sciences’ creative methodologies for critical event studies. They set out guidelines in the form of epistemological, ethical, and practical checklists to help critical event researchers develop an awareness of the “critical” dimension when using creative methods in research.