Transforming Leisure in the Pandemic Re-imagining Interaction and Activity during Crisis

This is the first book to critically explore international leisure during the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyses the ways in which the pandemic has impacted upon our leisure practices and our leisure lives, focusing on three key spaces · public, private, and digital. The book seeks to understand how changes in leisure have led to transformations in the ways we have had to ‘do’ and ‘redo’ activities, such as incorporating digitalisation and distancing measures, as well as dealing with restrictions on social interaction, gatherings, and cultural activities. It presents a series of case studies covering topics as diverse as music festivals, theatre on-screen, walking, static cycling, smartphone use, holidays, and the ‘lockdown leisure’ of preschool children, including people across the life course, from young children to older retired people. The book discusses changes in patterns of behaviour, leisure experiences, and leisure environments worldwide and critically re-evaluates what leisure is and what it means in contemporary societies. It illustrates both the significant impact the pandemic has had on leisure and the important role leisure plays in helping support and maintain individual and community well-being. This is fascinating reading for any student, researcher, or practitioner with an interest in leisure studies, tourism, events, sociology, cultural studies, or performance studies.

List of contributors Introduction Briony Sharp, Rebecca Finkel and Katherine Dashper PART I Transformations in public spaces 1 Nightlife leisure activities during COVID-19: Restrictions, spatial transformations, and social changes in clubbing space in the examples of Polish cities Grzegorz Iwanicki and Anna Dluzewska 2 The ritualistic nature of pandemic leisure Briony Sharp and Rebecca Finkel 3 The impact of COVID-19 on travel behaviour and holiday intentions: Evidence from Greece Nikolaos Trihas, Konstantinos Vassakis, Ioannis Kopanakis, Yannis Nikoloudakis, Ioannis Kefaloukos, Evangelos Pallis and Evangelos K. Markakis 4 Exploring African American college student experiences of leisure-time physical activity and psychological wellbeing during COVID-19 Kristine M. Fleming and Sarah L. Price 5 How did music festival stakeholders face pandemic uncertainty? Two case studies: Bachfest in Leipzig and BAM Festival in Barcelona Jordi Oliva PART II Transformations in private spaces 6 Toddler and pre-school children’s physical activity during a pandemic Georgia Allen and Philippa Velija 7 Children’s and families’ changing everyday geographies: Playing, learning, and exercising outdoors during COVID-19 Henriette Bertram, Stefanie Hennecke, Daniel Munderlein and Johanna Niesen 8 Bridge during a time of disruption: Pandemic playing, everyday habits, and situated writing Miriam Snellgrove and Samantha Punch 9 Rhythms in home-based leisure during the COVID-19 lockdown Metin Argan, Sohret Pakis, Umit Kesim and Mehpare Tokay Argan PART III Transformations in digital spaces 10 Changing "theatre-going" behaviours during COVID-19: Theatre on the screen Fan Wu 11 Digital leisure as sites of diasporic solidarity Jennie Jordan and Indrani Lahiri 12 COVID-19’s impact on leisure coping and smartphone use Christine Ausman, Susan Hutchinson and Kimberley Woodford 13 Stories of older adults’ resilience in adapting leisure behaviours due to COVID-19 restrictions Sue Stuart Index

Briony Sharp is Lecturer in Marketing, Innovation, Tourism, and Events division at the University of the West of Scotland, UK, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her most recent research focuses on the social impacts and legacies from events, event governance, volunteering and engagement, and critical event studies. Rebecca Finkel is Professor of Critical Event Studies at Queen Margaret University, UK, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Rebecca’s research situates events and festivals within social justice, gender in/equality, and cultural identity frameworks. Katherine Dashper is Professor and Director of Research Degrees in the School of Events, Tourism, and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University, UK. Her research focuses on gender and multispecies approaches to understanding leisure, sport, tourism, and events.