معرفی
Dr. Barbara Grabher is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton's School of Business and Law, serving as Course Leader for BSc International Event Management and International Tourism Management programmes. She is an active member of the Tourism, Inclusion, Events and Society Research Excellence Group and holds the role of University of Brighton Early Career Ambassador.
Her educational background includes:
- PhD in Gendering Cities of Culture from University of Hull (2020)
- PhD in Gendering Cities of Culture from University of Oviedo (2020)
- MA in Mapping Memories of Mobility from Utrecht University (2015)
- BA from University of Vienna (2013)
Dr. Grabher's research centers on Critical Event Studies, examining how events function as 'tools for meaning making' in negotiating socio-political and cultural values. Her work critically analyzes mega-events like the UK City of Culture, European Capital of Culture, and Eurovision Song Contest through interdisciplinary lenses combining anthropology, gender studies, and environmental humanities. She investigates urban/regional regeneration processes, with particular focus on LGBTQ+ inclusion, gender equality, and Anthropocene-related human-environmental relationships in event contexts.
Her publication trajectory reveals consistent thematic focus on event-based regeneration and value negotiations, with increasing emphasis on the Anthropocene and European Capitals of Culture since 2021. The Salzkammergut European Capital of Culture 2024 serves as a recurring case study, while methodological approaches remain predominantly qualitative and ethnographic. Recent outputs demonstrate growing engagement with visual and creative research methods, particularly postcard-based audience studies.
Dr. Grabher leads the ongoing 'Between Culture and Salt' project (2021-2024) examining Anthropocene concepts in Salzkammergut's regeneration process. Her supervisory approach emphasizes qualitative/ethnographic methods within urban/regional regeneration and Critical Event Studies frameworks. She actively contributes to academic discourse through conference presentations and professional engagements focused on event-based regeneration and cultural policy.
She is affiliated with the Tourism, Inclusion, Events and Society Research Excellence Group, where she collaborates on interdisciplinary event and tourism research initiatives exploring social inclusion, sustainability, and cultural policy impacts.
