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Heritage Oriented Mega Events in Europe

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Professor Franco Bianchini

Project Description

In the past, many cities used mega-events to support capital and revenue investments and boost tourism while harnessing their competitiveness on a global scale. Until recently, the emphasis has been placed by and large on the creation of new infrastructural components, new stadiums and other public facilities to host events. In many instances today, on the contrary, mega-event organizers have opted for the re-use of existing facilities, the conversion of inner-city areas and the regeneration of neighborhoods.

For heritage-rich European cities, this shift in paradigm - driven in part by contraction in public budgets and by the reduced pace of expansion of cities - represents both an opportunity and a threat.

How can we bring mega-events back into the urban historic fabric while fostering positive synergies with urban heritage and cultural landscapes? What are the common issues and main tradeoffs to be addressed in European cities? How to improve urban and cultural planning tools for mega-events in heritage-rich cities?

The HOMEE project brings together leading research centers working in the fields of cultural heritage preservation and mega-event planning, in close contact with key institutions and policy officers who have already had or will have direct responsibility for planning and implementing mega-events in Europe. In order to answer to the abovementioned questions , the HOMEE project will critically assess four recently completed mega-events and address the derived issues and opportunities through a Living Lab organized during the Matera European Capital of Culture 2019 event. Finally, the project will generate guidance and policy recommendations to support heritage preservation policy and mega-event planning in future host cities in Europe (in the HOMEE Charter).

Project Acronym HOMEE
Status Project Complete
Value £135,393.00
Project Dates Oct 1, 2018 - Aug 31, 2022

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