Cultural Management. The Case Study of the “Râșnov film” and Histories Festival

Cultural festivals are increasingly important in community development, combining artistic, educational, and identity dimensions. Yet, they face challenges similar to small and medium-sized enterprises, such as unstable financial resources, reduced teams, and strong competition in a diversified cultural market. This paper investigates the case of the Râșnov Film and Histories Festival (FFIR), organized by the Mioritics Association, using an integrated approach that combines classical management tools – SWOT, STEP, Porter’s Five Forces, and the value chain – with data collected through a participant questionnaire. The findings show that the festival operates as a cultural micro-enterprise, generating value through symbolic capital, program diversity, and community involvement, while struggling with financial limitations, the absence of an extended team, and the lack of formalized procedures. The external analysis revealed both opportunities and risks, with high public interest but also intense competition. The questionnaire confirmed high satisfaction and loyalty among participants. The study concludes that applying management tools enhances the sustainability of cultural events and underlines symbolic capital and audience satisfaction as critical drivers of long-term success.