- How successfully has the environmental theme been integrated into UK City of Culture 2021?
- Have attitudes towards the environment changed in Coventry?
- What should organisers of future cultural mega-events consider in relation to environmental integration?
Speakers
The research team was based across Coventry University’s Centre for Business in Society and Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience.
Recording
When
The webinar was held on Thursday 8 December 2022.
About
To address specific Outcomes listed within the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 (UK CoC 2021) Theory/Story of Change, the Coventry City of Culture Trust commissioned a series of focus studies.
This focus study examined how appreciation for the natural environment was integrated into UK CoC 2021 and how people’s attitudes and behaviours towards the environment have changed as a result.
This is of particular importance, as it was the first time that there has been an explicit focus upon the natural environment within a UK City of Culture programme.
Research Question
How successfully has the environmental theme been integrated into UK City of Culture 2021?
A report is available on the Integrating the Environment focus study page that provides an overview of findings and conclusions. The team has also told described its findings across a series of four videos.
Themes
The webinar explored how:
- the natural environment theme came to be an explicit focus within UK CoC 2021
- people experienced environmental activities and events within the programme
- the behaviours of organisations, communities and individuals were influenced.
It concluded with a discussion of learnings from the research and recommendations that have been made for future events which seek to integrate environmental dimensions within a cultural (mega-)event.
Cultural events are important conduits for widening understanding and appreciation for the natural environment and stimulating debate about its management.
David Bek, Coventry University. Concluding remarks.
Presentation
Target Audience
The event was designed for a range of stakeholders including academics, students, local administrators, organisers of cultural (mega-)events and members of the public.
Acknowledgements
This webinar was organised by the Coventry University’s Centre for Business in Society and Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience.
It was part of the monitoring and evaluation team‘s programme of reflective Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 events.