The Hong Kong arts festival and cultural activity choices

Abstract

Festivals are a growing phenomenon in modern economies (Prentice & Andersen 2003). It has been noted that cultural festivals are now a significant mainstay on the cultural calendar of modern society (Crespi-Vallbona & Richards 2007). This paper explores the role of arts festivals on local cultural activity consumptions, seeking in particular to gain a full understanding of attendees’ experiences with traditional versus globalised culture. Using data from over 1100 surveys of attendees at the 2009 Hong Kong Arts Festival the findings show that there were significant differences between attendance patterns of local residents and visitors. Local residents were attracted more to international performances while visitors were also strongly attracted to Chinese performances (both contemporary and traditional). This result highlights the dual role of major festivals of both bringing the best of international art to local residents while also showcasing the traditional and contemporary culture of the region.