A platform for local entrepreneurship: The case of the lighting festival of Frederikshavn

This article discusses the birth and evolution of a festival that has targeted the entrepreneurial dynamics in the provincial city of Frederikshavn (North Denmark). The festival was initiated in 2004 to confront a local economic crisis and has enjoyed support from a broad range of stakeholders. It started as a cultural project with initial scepticism among the local lighting firms; however, later they realized that supporting the festival was beneficial to them. The concept of temporary geographical proximity is applied to assess the festival’s importance in escaping from the city’s economic lock-in. Empirically, the article is based on interviews with a wide range of actors across the organizing network. The article offers some preliminary lessons about what such an event can contribute to local entrepreneurship.