Fringe bosses ask for help deciding on its future
The people of Edinburgh are being urged to help decide the future of the Fringe – as organisers said that the event “won’t be the same” when it returns.
The Fringe Society, which has overseen the growth of the event’s audience to more than three million, will be calling on citizens,localcommunitiesand artiststoinfluencewhatitlooks like over the next few years.
Chief executive Shona Mccarthy pledged that its post-pandemic future would be underpinned by “equity, diversity, inclusion and sustainability.”
Concerns over the impact of the Fringe on the environment and on the quality of life in the citycentrehavebeengrowingin recent years. Critics have called for action to ease crowd congestion and measures to curb its carbon footprint.
In December, it emerged that the Fringe Society had signed a new Edinburgh pledge aimed at sparking city-wide action to tackle the climate crisis.
The pledges to consult widely have been made by the Fringe Society in its in the same week as a public poll was launched on the future of Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations.
Ms Mccarthy said the society had faced a fight for survival after the cancellation of the 2020 event.
But she said the hiatus had provided “much-needed room to breathe and plan for a more resilient future.”
Writing on the Edinburgh Climate Commission website, she insisted that action on climatechangewillbeatthe“very core” of everything the society doesasitlooksto“buildafringe for the future.”
Ms Mccarthy said: “We are committing to direct, urgent, positiveactiononcarbonreduction and sustainable practice, andthiswillbeaguidingprinciple over the next 10 years.”
The Fringe’s annual review states: “Looking ahead to 2021, the only thing anyone can say for sure is that the Fringe won’t be the same as we’ve known it.
"And while it’s natural to feel some trepidation about the uncertainties that lie ahead, we alsofeelinspiredandinvigorated to meet them head on, motivated by the same spark of defiancethatignitedthefringespiritmorethansevendecadesago.
"Thisfestivalhasneverexisted asastagnantentity,ratherithas evolved in line with the needs of all those who embrace it. “Over the coming weeks and months, we will be asking people – citizens, artists, communities – to help shape what the future of the Fringe looks like.
"Whether you have been part of it every year or you're consideringyourfirstvisit,we’dloveto hear what the Fringe means to you and what you would like it to be.
"We need your help to ensure that the Fringe remains a platform for the arts to develop and thrive.”
Msmccarthysaid:“theroleof the Fringe and Fringe artists in our collective recovery is going to be more important than ever in the year (and years) ahead.
"Atthemomentwe’reallsharing in the unpredictability, fear
and seeming relentlessness of the pandemic.
"But one day soon, live performance will be possible again and we’ll be able to meet and reconnect and feel joy together.
"We’ll continue to prepare for that, by talking to artists, venues and anyone with ideas to help us find our way through this.”
Do you know your pipistrelles from your noctules and natterer’s from Daubenton's and Leisler's?
If the answer is yes, then you could take part in a novel Scottish musical art project.
Glasgow-based artist and composer Hanna Tuulikki is reaching out to wildlife enthusiasts and ecologists across the Uktohelpcreatehernextpiece of work.
She is looking for people to send in their recordings of the often inaudible high-pitched screechesusedbybatsforsonar navigation.
Her plan is to collect as many as possible and turn them into anoriginalpieceofmusicforan arts project in Arbroath.
Batshuntatnight,usingecholocationtoflyaroundandtrack down their prey in the dark.
The noises they make are often indiscernible by the human ear due to their ultrahigh pitch, but can be captured using special bat-detectors.
The devices are used by amateurs and professionals alike to identify bat species.
Ms Tuulikki is compiling an archive of recordings to be made into a public library of sounds.fromthesesheplansto createauniquemusicalcomposition named Echo in the Dark, which will feature in a performanceeventatarbroath’shospitalfield,aspartofitslatestarts programme.
For the development of this work, the artist will tune into rhythms and frequencies beyond the human experience inabidtoexplorethe“interconnections of bat echolocation and embodied dance music as a model for ecological coexistence”.
The artist says she is looking forwardtoexperimentingwith the sounds for the new piece.
“I'm excited to begin to work with these hidden sounds of the more-thanhuman world,” she said.
“Bat echo-location calls are too high for humans to hear naturally, but by using a bat detector the ultrasonic signals can be converted into audible sound waves, allowing us to tune into their detailed rhythms,
clicks and buzzes.
“Is it possible to appreciate these sounds as music?
“What might it feel like to dancetomusiccreatedbythese bat call rhythms?
“I'm interested to find out,
exploring a space where species meet.”
You can find out how to contribute at the Bat Conservation Trust website.
Jail chiefs have deployed a special team to privately-run Addiewell Prison amid staff claims that “bullying and mismanagement” is putting their lives at risk.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) sent a deputation of senior officials into the West Lothian establishment after a string of concerns were raised by frontline custody officers. Staff from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland also attended.
The swoop follows multiple claims of a "culture of fear” among guards over allegations of mismanagement of Covid-19 precautions which officers say has left them fearing for their safety behind bars guarding some of Scotland’s most dangerous prisoners.
HMP Addiewell is operated by Sodexo on a multi-million pound per year contract for the Sps,whichretainsadutyofcare over its inmates. It houses prisoners including the leaders of serious and organised crime gangs, murderers and scores of violent offenders.
Staff claim they are blamed for Covid breaches and threatened with docked wages if they have to self-isolate more than twice.theysayseniormanagement created their own Covid rules which have left the establishment short-staffed during the pandemic, with wings holdingviolentconvictsattimes patrolled by a single guard.
Sodexo confirmed the prison was short-staffed while refuting some other allegations. However, the SPS believe the guards have “legitimate concerns for their safety” and sent its own officials into Addiewell to investigate.
Staff claim inmates have been allowed out of their cells for just 15 minutes a day – leaving Addiewell on the verge of imploding.
A senior SPS insider confirmed details of the concerns,
labelling the situation “utterly untenable”.
He said: “There is a complete breakdown of trust between the frontline staff and management, which is utterly untenable. Lives could be at risk.”
Sodexo admitted placing inmates in lockdown. Fraser Munro, Prison Director, added: “Staffing was severely affected foraperiod,followingafulltesting programme of all staff and prisoners. This was a very difficult
period for everyone and we are hugely proud of our staff team, who worked tirelessly and professionally under very difficult circumstances.”
The council’s decision to withdraw funds to help bring a historic landmark back to life has been described as a “huge blow” for Edinburgh's heritage.
Officialsatthecockburnassociationhaveexpressedtheirdisappointmentthatcouncilbudget cuts have resulted in Edinburgh World Heritage abandoning its lease and plans to find a long-term and sustainableuseforthe17thcenturytron Kirk.
Edinburgh World Heritage took over the running of the building in 2018 and brought it back into temporary use as an exhibition site and book shop and planned to further invest in restoring the former church, whichisonthebuildingsatrisk Register.
Therevelationthatedinburgh World Heritage is to withdraw from the building from April 1, follows a meeting of the Finance and Resources Committeeatedinburghcouncilon December3,2020,whereitwas decided that the council could no longer commit to supplying morefundstothetronkirkproject due to “significant unbudgetedcapitalpressures”.director of the Cockburn Association, Terry Levinthal, said: “The announcementthatedinburgh World Heritage has pulled out ofitsleaseandprojectproposals for the Tron Kirk is a huge blow for the heritage of Edinburgh.”
Built in 1647, the Category A listed Tron Kirk served as the focalpointforedinburgh’shogmanay celebrations until 1993, when the main street party migrated to Princes Street.
Mr Levinthal added that it is “ironic” the local authority is able to continue paying £800,000 in contract obligations to Underbelly for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, but cannot find the cash to save the Tron Kirk,the“spiritualhomeofhogmanay”.
Edinburgh Council says the combination of the coronavirus pandemic and other financial pressures meant there was little choice but to pull the plug on further funds for the Tron.
Councillor Rob Munn, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee at the
City of Edinburgh Council, said: “After carefully considering our options in December last year Committee decided that allocating the
funding requested would put too much stress on our budget.
"We’re bringing a report on options for the short and longer-term future of this historic and important building to the city in May.”