Event Studies

Focus and Themes of Special Interest Group

The Event Studies SIG provides a forum for event researchers and educators to contribute to the development of collaborative partnerships through effective cooperation, communication and knowledge sharing. The key themes of the Event SIG are:

Collegial Network Development

Promote the development of a collegial network which provides opportunities for academics, students, government and industry in particular, to more readily create collaborative partnerships through effective cooperation, communication and knowledge sharing.

Event Studies Scholarship

Advance the teaching research nexus by fostering a spirit of critical, engaged academic debate and scholarly research with the aim of specifically focusing on advancing theoretically informed event studies discourse across a diverse range of areas and issues.

Information Dissemination

Facilitate extensive knowledge production, transference and dissemination of theoretically informed event studies research through effective and accessible communication vehicles, to a diverse audience including academics, government and industry.

Practical Application

Generate more targeted research that contributes to informed, rigorous, timely and evidence based practices in both event education and industry.

Key Outcomes for Members

Foster diverse, critical academic debate to contribute to the development of a strong, theoretically underpinned and informed body of knowledge.
Reinforce the relevance and significance of theoretically informed event studies research through the effective dissemination of knowledge to a diverse audience.
Facilitate and build evidence based teaching and research to support the practical development, implementation and evaluation of events.

Key Activities for 2012

The SIG meeting at CAUTHE was attended by 20 delegates.

Planned activities include a special issue of the International Journal of Event and Festival Management on Research Methods and Trends in Festivals and Events and a workshop later this year to be held at SCU.
Event studies paper stream at CAUTHE was also well attended, with SIG members presenting all the papers in the stream.

Past Activities

2011

The inaugural Evemeeting was held at CAUTHE 2011. A schedule of activities, priorities and initiatives was discussed to facilitate equity, accountability, transparency and ownership. In preparation for the first meeting, the following activities were proposed:

Establish SIG and develop a collegial network

Compile a potential network membership list including academics, industry, government and PhD and Master students
Develop a communication strategy, inlcuding identifying member interest in the Event Studies SIG and inviting potential members to identify outcomes they would like to see as a result of the SIG.
Approach potential members to lead various preparatory activities

Facilitate scholarship in Event Studies

Identify innovative event studies scholarship opportunities (i.e., edited volumes, writing workshops, research symposiums)
Enhance scholarship through the experiences and expertise of others (i.e., mentoring programs)
Explore potential links with key event research groups (i.e., ACEM@ UTS, CWTL@SCU, Northcoast Green Events)
Introduce an Event Studies related paper stream at the CAUTHE 2011 conference

Disseminate information

Develop an annual publication summarizing key event studies research outputs from SIG members which will be disseminated via industry bodies and associations (i.e., TRA, state tourism bodies, events industry organisations)
Prepare an Event Studies Special Issue in the Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Facilitate practical and applied research in Event Studies

Expand collaborative opportunities with industry and government and kindred associations
Enhance practical/applied research through the experiences and expertise of others
Explore potential links with key event associations (i.e., MEA (Meetings & Events Australia), BECA (Business Events Council of Australia) and ISIS (International Special Events Society)

Event Studies SIG Coordinators

Dr Michelle Whitford: michelle.whitford@scu.edu.au
Dr Judith Mair: Judith.Mair@monash.edu