Abstract

The aim of this paper consists in the presentation of a conceptual and methodological framework to analyze the territorial impacts of a cultural event. At the territorial level, various strategies can be implemented to foster the territorial visibility/image, and to reinforce the economic, social and urban attractiveness. In these strategies, cultural events can be considered as levers of attractiveness. Beyond the short term impacts (more specifically, the touristic attractiveness), almost easily measurable, the cultural action can also produce sustainable impacts in a multi-dimensional vision including economic and social logics, plus the issue of the citizen's participation. The main research question is to determine in which measure the cultural strategy can foster a territorial dynamic of sustainable attractiveness. The methodology is built around a unique case study: the «Picasso-Aix 2009» cultural season, which was the occasion to analyze the impacts of this event on the territorial attractiveness and creativity at a local level.