Leveraging a Street Festival for Lasting Transformation in a UNESCO World Heritage Neighbourhood

Temporary cultural events, such as street festivals, can drive lasting urban revitalization in historic neighborhoods, even when their immediate impacts are often overlooked. A qualitative study of the Kaya Kaya festival in Otrobanda, Curaçaoreveals how such initiatives temporarily repurpose vacant properties and public spaces to foster artistic appeal, economic activity, and community engagement. Through interviews and urban planning theories, researchers demonstrate that these events generate long-term social, economic, and physical benefits, challenging the assumption that their effects are fleeting. The case highlights strategic opportunities for policymakers, developers, and investors to leverage short-term cultural interventions as catalysts for sustainable neighborhood transformation.

Regales, C., & Simons, I. (2026). Leveraging a Street Festival for Lasting Transformation in a UNESCO World Heritage Neighbourhood. Urban Planning, 11. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.11659