Events in Times of Crisis

When crises strike, such as pandemics, natural disasters, or political unrest, events often take on a new role. They become spaces for recovery, connection, and renewal. But they can also reveal deeper inequalities. So, who gets protected, and who gets left out?

In this blog, we will explore what it truly means for an event to be resilient. Is resilience simply about bouncing back from a shock, or does it also mean building fairer systems in the process?

What Does “Resilience” in Events Really Mean?

The term “resilience” is widely used in sustainable development. It often refers to the ability to recover quickly from hardships. In the context of events, this might look like a festival returning after COVID-19, or a conference shifting online during a natural disaster. However, returning to “normal” is not always a positive outcome, especially when “normal” has already excluded certain groups (Holling, 1973).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many events quickly moved to digital platforms. While this shift allows continuity, it also introduces new forms of exclusion. A survey by Chun et al. (2024) found that over 37% of students in low- and middle-income countries lacked access to reliable internet or devices during remote learning, similar challenges were faced by attending to digital events. Likewise, people with disabilities encounter barriers such as missing subtitles, incompatible platforms, and fast-paced content delivery that did not consider diverse needs (Darcy, 2012).

As Bladen et al. (2022) point out, simply going online does not guarantee accessibility. True resilience must consider more factors like who gets left behind when we change the way events are organized?

Inequality in the Name of Innovation

Let’s look at how inequality shows up during times of crisis. First, access to technology is uneven. People living in rural areas, low-income households, or older generations often struggle to take part in digital events. According to Del Carpio et al. (2022), many people around the world are still not connected to the internet, and even those who may face problems with low bandwidth or unreliable devices.

Second, not all events recover in the same way. Thomasson (2022) explains that large, well-funded events were 3.5 times more likely to receive public or private financial support during the pandemic compared to smaller, community-led festivals. This funding gap has increased existing inequalities and made it harder for grassroots initiatives, often led by marginalised groups, unable to return.

What Can We Do Better?

Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics (2017) reminds us that sustainability must balance two things: not harming the planet and not leaving anyone behind. The same idea applies to events. Resilience is not just about keeping the show going. It’s about changing how the show is made, and who it’s made for.

To do this, we can start by asking: Is our event really accessible to all? Can people attend with different needs, devices, languages, and incomes? Are we funding and supporting smaller events that serve underrepresented groups? Are we designing for flexibility? It is not just in tech, but in culture and participation. As Pelling (2011) notes, resilience has to include social justice. Otherwise, we are just rebuilding the same unfair structures over and over again.

A Stronger Future Includes Everyone

Crisis reveals cracks, but it also reveals what really matters. Events are powerful tools for healing, joy, and solidarity. But if they are not built with equity in mind, they risk deepening the divides they should help mend. Because real resilience means no one is left behind.

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