Participation in a poetry festival in a seniors’ residence in Quebec: For the safeguarding of Cultural Capital (habitus)

There is a considerable deficit in the offer of cultural leisure activities in Quebec seniors’ residences, even though one third are interested in them. These seniors possess what Bourdieu calls Cultural Capital (habitus). This Capital promotes self-confidence and a sense of belonging. The main objective of this research is to better know and understand participation in a poetry festival in a seniors’ residence. It aims to compare the cultural leisure activities practiced during youth with those of today, as well as to understand the benefits that seniors derive from their participation in the poetry festival. Finally, it seeks to better define the cultural experience as lived by the participants. To achieve these objectives, a case study was conducted using a qualitative approach. The results show the importance of having a varied offer of cultural leisure activities, including poetry, for the safeguarding of Cultural Capital (habitus) among seniors in Quebec residences.