The Foliada da Fonsagrada: Community-Led Management of Intangible Heritage through the Theory of the Commons

Abstract

This article proposes an analytical shift within the field of Festival Studies by focusing on forms of social self-organisation that operate outside neoliberal logics. Through the application of the commons theoretical framework, it analyses collective governance practices that allow for a rethinking of cultural production as a community-based process, sustained by values of reciprocity, care, and shared responsibility. The case study of the Foliada da Fonsagrada offers insight into how these principles take shape in an event that activates traditional repertoires, distributes its benefits equitably, and strengthens the local social and cultural fabric. Beyond this specific analysis, the article highlights the potential of such organisational models as situated proposals that explore alternative grassroots approaches to cultural management.