Why the flit, and what will it mean for other events?
By the summer of 2019 the growing demands for action to tackle the climate emergency and an increasing scrutiny on the festivals’ environmental impact seemed to bring things to a head, and by this time last year it was clear that change was in the air.
Julia Amour, director of Festivals Edinburgh, which oversees the running of these events, insisted “growth for growth’s sake is not our agenda” and that it was “obviously critical” to deal with concerns about sustainability.
Last February, the Fringe Society announced it had made a “conscious decision” to refocus its marketing campaigns to persuade its “existing” audiences to see more shows. That same month, the Edinburgh International Book Festival admitted it was “very concerned” about the declining condition of Charlotte Square Gardens, its home since the first event in 1983 and that bad weather had made it “impossible” to carry out reinstatement work by then. Fast forward 12 months and the book festival has turned its promises into action first, with a permanent move to Edinburgh College of Art, from this August.
On its own, the announcement looks like a clever solution to a looming crisis for the book festival in terms of both its entire infrastructure and its reputation. But two factors suggest that its overhaul is likely to be only the start of a radical shakeup of how the city’s festivals and events look and feel, especially those held in parks and gardens.
Over the last year, technology has radically transformed how events are consumed and enjoyed. The days of having to come to Edinburgh to experience its festivals in a meaningful way feel like they are in the past.
The pandemic, which director Nick Barley insists is the key ‘driving force’ of the move, has also transformed public perceptions of outdoor spaces and how important they are to people living in towns and cities. Those charged with maintaining both their condition and public access are likely to have an increasing influence on how they are used in future – regardless of the popularity of the events staged in them.