Abstract
This qualitative study explores how leisure events can facilitate the creation of new narratives, by analysing the case of Kaya Kaya festival in Otrobanda, Curaçao. Kaya Kaya has played an instrumental role in transforming the overarching narrative of the Otrobanda from an unsafe area to a vibrant artistic neighbourhood. Through interviews and participatory workshops with a wide range of stakeholders, the study provides a nuanced view on how the event served as a platform for narrative change, by engaging the local community and by altering physical spaces through the creation of murals and other art forms. It also examines the consequences of this narrative shift for the place, the community and individuals. The paper contributes to event studies by applying a narrative approach to understand the social value of leisure events and by demonstrating how events can drive the construction of new positive narratives of communities and neighbourhoods.
Presenters
Ilja SimonsLecturer/Researcher, Leisure and Events, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Hospitality the Caribbean Way: Global Lessons from Local Experiences
KEYWORDS
Event, Festival, Placemaking, Narratives, Kaya Kaya, Otrobanda, Curacao, Transformation, Community
