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Kartseva E.A. The Specifics of Administering and Financing Art Festivals
https://doi.org/10.25281/2072-3156-2026-23-3-248-255
Abstract
Effective implementation of the goals and priorities of the Strategy of State Cultural Policy for the Period up to 2030 requires developing regional cultural projects, increasing public access to cultural institutions, and modernizing cultural infrastructure. Art festivals are an important component of the creative industries, a key tool for sociocultural design, and a sought-after form of cultural entertainment, all of which contribute to the development of domestic tourism. This study aims to analyze the specifics of organizing and administering contemporary art festivals, considering their needs across different audience groups. The analysis reveals several characteristic features of such events: cross-disciplinarity, trans-historicity, social engagement and inclusiveness, and cross-territoriality. Open source data — including reports and media publications on festival financing, and organizer interviews — provide the empirical basis for the article. Contextual and comparative methods guide the research. The findings describe Russian festival practices and the challenges encountered in their organization. Innovative fundraising approaches then emerge from the results: a combined system for attracting additional funding sources, upcycling art objects, activating civic engagement through crowdfunding, fostering co-creation, and integrating digital art forms.
About the Author
Ekaterina A. Kartseva
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
6 Miusskaya Sq., Moscow, 125993, Russia
ORCID 0000-0002-3517-5551; SPIN 7970-8713
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For citations:
Kartseva E.A. Kartseva E.A. The Specifics of Administering and Financing Art Festivals. Observatory of Culture. 2026;23(3):248-255. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25281/2072-3156-2026-23-3-248-255
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