Using Rapid Ethnography to Unpack Performances of Community Authenticity: An Art Festival Case from Victoria, British Columbia.

This article examines the potential of rapid ethnography—a qualitative research methodology known for its time- and resource-efficient approach—to enhance planning research by deepening understanding of human behavior and abstract constructs such as community authenticity. Using a heuristic case study of the annual Toronto-Dominion-Art Gallery Paint In (TD-AG Paint In) arts festival in Victoria, British Columbia, the study illustrates how rapid ethnography can explore performances of authentic community through inclusion, community connectedness, and ritualistic practices. The findings highlight rapid ethnography's suitability for planning contexts constrained by time and resources, offering a systematic yet pragmatic alternative to traditional ethnography that can inform policy and practice. The article advocates for broader and more explicit use of qualitative methods like rapid ethnography in planning to better conceptualize normative goals and improve community engagement.