Assessing the socio-economic impact of performing arts festivals: a new theoretical model

The impact of the Performing Arts Festival (PAF) is an ongoing field of research, currently facing several flush issues. Due to the fact that the topic spans different disciplines, little agreement subsists on the main definition and interpretation as well as about appropriate way of measurement techniques. Despite the most part of specialise literature takes into account the measurement of economic impact, the assessment of social impact and the assessment of the social and environmental performance, there is little robust evidence on organizational goals and on the degree of effectiveness of mechanisms and structures used to achieve the goals agreed. Drawing on the received experience of research in the field, this paper outlines a new integrated theoretical model able to include and combine the dimensions evaluated by the traditional literature, pooled with dimensions related to the analysis of organization’ s strategic goals and to the organizational effectiveness analysis. In more detail, an in-depth case study on the Napoli Teatro Festival (NTFI) is carried out to illustrate the new theoretical framework applied.