SoFest

Cultural policies are undergoing a major overhaul in the wake of various territorial reforms (regions, metropolitan areas, and new boundaries for public intermunicipal cooperation agencies, etc.). Crucial questions regardingartistic independence and diversityare being raised in light of the trend toward concentration in the sector.

This study, unique in its scope and methodology, sheds concrete light on the ability of festivals to contribute to regional development.

The SoFEST! study, initiated and coordinated by France Festivals, is the result ofclose cooperation between a research team—co-led by Emmanuel Négrier and Aurélien Djakouane—regional and national festival networks(the Collectif des festivals, De Concert!, Fédération des Festivals de Chanson Francophone), and regional agencies (Grand Est and Occitanie). Severalpartners are supportingthe project: the DEPS (Department of Studies and Forecasting at the Ministry of Culture), Sacem, and Crédit Coopératif.

The SoFEST! research project is developing several methods tailored to each of the five components.

Its general approach is to combine the benefits of aquantitative approach(surveys of audience members, volunteers, and festivals) with the merits of aqualitative approach (interviews, on-site observations, and discourse and image analysis). The team assembled by Emmanuel Négrier (CEPEL-CNRS, University of Montpellier) and Aurélien Djakouane (SOPHIAPOL, University of Paris Nanterre) includes about ten researchers from the disciplines necessary for the project’s success: political science, sociology, economics, and information and communication.

SoFEST! by the numbers:

•30,000 audience surveyscollected

•2,000volunteers who responded

•13 regions

•14 partners

• More than 240performing arts festivalsanalyzed

• More than 100 interviewsand on-site observations

More information: Website