Space, identity and festivals. Spatial empowerment and the construction of identity discourses through the lens of heritage festival organizers

Abstract

The study analyzes the discourse on local identity developed by festival organizers in a heritage city with emerging tourism development (Tarragona, Spain). Drawing on the concept of spatiality and spatial empowerment, and through data obtained from in-depth interviews with local festival organizers, an analysis about the role of spatiality in festivals is carried out. The main result shows the existence of different spatial strategies employed in festivals, which support different local identities patterns. We demonstrate this through the way festivals renegotiate local identity using an spatiality approach, and a selective location process of the festival spaces. A two-dimension typology of festivals in heritage cities is proposed in order to synthesize the diversity of identity narratives identified, resulting in 4 types of festivals. Finally, the article addresses various implications surrounding the dimension of spatial empowerment, both theoretical and practical.