The value of events in times of uncertainty: insights from balcony performances in Italy during the COVID-19 lockdown

Journal article


Antchak, V., Gorchakova, V. and Rossetti, G. 2022. The value of events in times of uncertainty: insights from balcony performances in Italy during the COVID-19 lockdown. Annals of Leisure Research. pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2022.2046117
AuthorsAntchak, V., Gorchakova, V. and Rossetti, G.
Abstract

The paper explores the role and value of the so-called ‘balcony performances’ – community special events, organized during the first national lockdown in Italy in March-May 2020. Following the constructionist research paradigm, in-depth interviews were collected and analysed to understand how through engaging with special events, residents found ways to deal with uncertainty and distress during the time of lockdown. Balcony events allowed participants to connect with others at a distance, express and share their feelings and emotions and, eventually, transform fear and worry into hope and positivity. The paper reiterates the vital ritualistic role of events in community life and introduces a conceptual framework of the transformative power of events. The framework explains how during times of uncertainty, improvisational creativity within neighbourhoods, expressed in special events, can provide a platform for resilience building and community cohesion. The paper also puts forward a new perspective on residential balconies as event venues.

KeywordsCOVID-19; leisure ; lockdown; balcony
Year2022
JournalAnnals of Leisure Research
Journal citationpp. 1-18
PublisherRoutledge - Taylor and Francis
ISSN2159-6816
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2022.2046117
Web address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/11745398.2022.2046117
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online05 Mar 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted09 Feb 2022
Deposited20 Oct 2023
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/q1y33/the-value-of-events-in-times-of-uncertainty-insights-from-balcony-performances-in-italy-during-the-covid-19-lockdown

Download files

  • 19
    total views
  • 23
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Reimagining where we live: cultural placemaking and the levelling up agenda
Michopoulou, E., Mcilvenna, K., Roe, C. and Antchak, V. 2022. Reimagining where we live: cultural placemaking and the levelling up agenda . UK Parliament.
Theoretical Perspectives of Crisis Management and Recovery for Events
Ziakas, Vassilios, Antchak, Vladimir and Getz, Donald 2021. Theoretical Perspectives of Crisis Management and Recovery for Events. in: Crisis Management and Recovery for Events: Impacts and Strategies Goodfellow Publishers.
Agility in the Events Sector A Case Study of a Business Event in Finland
Gorchakova, Valentina and Berdysheva, Ekaterina 2021. Agility in the Events Sector A Case Study of a Business Event in Finland. in: Crisis Management and Recovery for Events: Impacts and Strategies Goodfellow Publishers.
Crisis Management and Recovery for Events: Impacts and Strategies
Ziakas, Vassilios, Antchak, Vladimir and Getz, Donald 2021. Crisis Management and Recovery for Events: Impacts and Strategies. Goodfellow Publishers.
Understanding the core elements of event portfolio strategy: lessons from Auckland and Dunedin
Antchak, Vladimir, Michael, Luck and Tomas, Pernecky 2021. Understanding the core elements of event portfolio strategy: lessons from Auckland and Dunedin. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 33 (7), pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-09-2020-1022
An eventful tourism city: Hosting major international exhibitions in Melbourne
Gorchakova, Valentina and Antchak, Vladimir 2021. An eventful tourism city: Hosting major international exhibitions in Melbourne. in: Routledge.
Unusual venues for business events: Key quality attributes of museums and art galleries
Antchak, Vladimir and Adams, Eleanor 2020. Unusual venues for business events: Key quality attributes of museums and art galleries. International Journal of Tourism Cities. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-09-2019-0156
The fundamentals of event design
Antchak, Vladimir and Ramsbottom, Olivia 2019. The fundamentals of event design. Routledge.
Marginalisation and events
Antchak, Vladimir 2019. Marginalisation and events. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2019.1593204
Sector-focused approach to business events in Manchester
Vokacova, Zuzana and Antchak, Vladimir 2019. Sector-focused approach to business events in Manchester. in: Goodfellow.
Small cities with big dreams: creative placemaking and branding strategies
Antchak, Vladimir 2019. Small cities with big dreams: creative placemaking and branding strategies. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2019.103973
Event portfolio management: theory and methods for event management and tourism
Antchak, Vladimir, Ziakas, Vassilios and Getz, Donald 2019. Event portfolio management: theory and methods for event management and tourism. Goodfellow.
City rhythms and events.
Antchak, Vladimir 2018. City rhythms and events. Annals of Tourism Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2017.11.006
Events and place experience: Improvisation with city rhythms and psychogeography.
Antchak, Vladimir 2017. Events and place experience: Improvisation with city rhythms and psychogeography.
Major events programming in a city: Comparing three approaches to portfolio design.
Antchak, Vladimir and Pernecky, Tomas 2017. Major events programming in a city: Comparing three approaches to portfolio design. Event Management. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599517X15053272359013
Portfolio of major events in Auckland: characteristics, perspectives and issues
Antchak, Vladimir 2017. Portfolio of major events in Auckland: characteristics, perspectives and issues. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events. https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2017.1312421