Festival leaders warn the capital has to keep pace with rest of world

● Technology revolution set to help city’s events

Edinburgh will need to build a host of modern new venues, reinvent historic ones and combine the latest technology with culture to remain world-leading in future, according to leaders of the city’s festivals.

Organisers believe digital tour guides, virtual reality experiences in public spaces, driverless cars, cinema-style auditoriums and “plug in and play” facilities for performers on the street are likely to be priorities for the city in future.

Greater collaborations with schools, including regular visitors from performers, providing more support for cultural organisations based in the city year-round and extending the global reach of the festivals have also been targeted in a new long-term strategy.

However, festival leaders said Edinburgh risks slipping out of the premier division for hosting major events if it does not keep pace with major international rivals and invest in its cultural infrastructure.

Providing a “seamless tourism experience” for overseas visitors, ensuring potential audiences in and around Edinburgh do not feel excluded from attending the city’s arts festivals and ensuring they do not suffer from “salami slicing” funding cuts are said to be crucial to secure their future.

Senior figures involved in the festivals – speaking ahead of their 70th anniversary in 2017 – have warned audiences of the future will no longer accept uncomfortable and over-heated venues, a difficult to navigate city centre and poor customer service.

Julia Amour, director of Festivals Edinburgh, which oversees 12 major events, said: “We need to take stock and look at what will continue to keep us in the premier league over that longer timescale.

“The festivals have been a motor for the city’s development for nearly 70 years. There is now a really wide recognition of how important they are for its citizens, but also for its international reputation. There is a broad consensus that we need to continue to invest in the festivals.

“Nobody is going to replicate what Edinburgh has got, but the city will need to reinvent and refresh itself.”

Edinburgh International Festival director Fergus Linehan said: “There has to be a really honest assessment of where are we. Any organisation that is not currently looking at how to maintain itself or provide better facilities is in terrible trouble.”