In this work we argue that all parties involved in the organization of a cultural festival are striving for qualitative outcomes and are in search to determine answers to these questions. For them, the usual quantitative assessments such as size of revenues, number of visitors, profits, number of citations, social media scores provide insufficient information. The quality evaluator (QE) that this chapter proposes, is intended to evaluate the realization of the important cultural and social values and qualities of a cultural festival and its organization. It is a method that can account for changes in values of their audience or visitors and with that can function as an indicator of impact. Consequently, it provides feedback to the initiators, organizers, entrepreneurs, supporters of a festival on how well they are doing, and what to do differently to perform better. The QE is theoretically rooted in the so-called value-based approach where the distinction of purposes from instrumental goals is crucial. This chapter discusses both the conceptual and theoretical roots of QE and its application to the performing arts in relation to Rotterdam Unlimited Festival.

Klamer, Petrova and Kiss (2022). Cultural Value of a Festival: The Quality Evaluator for Assessing Impact in E. Salvador & J. Peterson (eds.), Managing Cultural Festivals between Tradition and Innovation in Europe, Routledge: London.