Cultural festivals as intergroup settings: a case study of Pacific Islander identification

ABSTRACTAddressing the current gap in the literature regarding cultural festivals as a unique site of intergroup discourse, we invoke social identity and group vitality theories to explore the effect of attending an international cultural festival on members of different groups. A total of 143 participants at the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam completed surveys and interviews concerning identity salience. Measures of ethnic identity and meta-identity salience both increased (and interacted) after participation in the Festival, and the region of origin also had moderating effects. Standard paradigms regarding single identity salience are discussed as well as future avenues for intercultural work.