Edinburgh’s festivals receive 70th birthday present with £2m award
EDINBURGH’s historic role as the birthplace of the pre-eminent modern arts festival is being marked with a £2.3 million cash windfall.
The government-backed Festivals Expo Fund is to award the cash to the festivals for projects, including work by four major theatre companies at the Edinburgh International Festival, which was founded in 1947.
Its 70th anniversary is being celebrated by every major Edinburgh festival this year.
The EIF, which releases its 2017 programme later this month, receives £200,000 towards “European Odysseys”, where four as yet unnamed Scottish theatre companies will “present works which consider the origins of European drama from a contemporary perspective”.
The International Film Festival, which takes places in June, receives £110,000 towards its talent lab, while the city’s Jazz and Blues Festival has been awarded £140,000.
The Edinburgh Art Festival receives £140,000 towards a programme of newly commissioned art projects including a showcase of emerging talent.
A project called Outriders at the Edinburgh International Book Festival benefits from £100,000, and will explore how the role of the writer, and commission new work from five writers.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This funding for Edinburgh’s festivals will see investment in the skills and talent of both emerging and established artists here in Scotland, which supports the development of new international opportunities, networks and partnerships among festivals.
“As Edinburgh festivals celebrate their 70th anniversary, it is a time for our artists to dream, reflect, invent and celebrate by bringing Scotland to the world and theworldtoScotlandthrougharts and culture.
“I look forward to seeing the cultural excellence of our world renowned festivals over the coming months.
“The Scottish Government Expo funding cycle kicks off with the Edinburgh International Film Festival which will receive £110,000 and today I had the opportunity to meet with some of our up and coming film talent in Edinburgh.”
Other recipients include the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, the Science Festival, the Children’s Festival and Hogmanay, which receives £200,000.
The Fringe gets more than £500,000, towards its Made in Scotland 2018 programme while the Festivals 70th Anniversary programme gets £300,000.
Festivals Edinburgh receives £200,000.