DiscoverCEF's Podcast: 'Inside Events'ATMOSPHERE IS A SOCIAL CONTRACT: WHY ORGANISERS, FANS, AND CITIES MUST CO-CREATE IT TOGETHER
ATMOSPHERE IS A SOCIAL CONTRACT: WHY ORGANISERS, FANS, AND CITIES MUST CO-CREATE IT TOGETHER

ATMOSPHERE IS A SOCIAL CONTRACT: WHY ORGANISERS, FANS, AND CITIES MUST CO-CREATE IT TOGETHER

Update: 2025-08-25
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An electric event atmosphere can’t be manufactured—it emerges organically from rituals, participation, and shared emotion. Yet too often, organisers mistake spectacle for atmosphere, investing in grand visuals and pyrotechnics while overlooking what truly makes events memorable and meaningful. In this episode, we unpack why fans are not passive consumers but co-creators of atmosphere before, during, and long after an event ends. From fan traditions and local culture to inclusive design choices and city-wide activations, authentic atmospheres are built, not bought. We explore how event organisers can foster the conditions for collective energy to flourish—bridging the gap between inside the venue and the wider urban experience. By prioritising participation, belonging, and emotional connection, organisers can create events that leave lasting impressions on audiences, cities, and communities alike, turning one-off moments into shared cultural memories that resonate long after the final whistle.

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ATMOSPHERE IS A SOCIAL CONTRACT: WHY ORGANISERS, FANS, AND CITIES MUST CO-CREATE IT TOGETHER

ATMOSPHERE IS A SOCIAL CONTRACT: WHY ORGANISERS, FANS, AND CITIES MUST CO-CREATE IT TOGETHER

Centre for Events & Festivals