Fringe chief hits back at ‘cultural snobbery’ attacks on the event
The head of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has accused the city’s long-running heritage body of “cultural snobbery” over claims that its shows were exclusive, private and “commercial” events.
Shona Mccarthy, chief executive of the Fringe Society, which oversees the event, has hit back at attempts by the Cockburn Association to block the return of a major outdoor venue this year and suggestions that the festival’s recovery should not be supported due to its impact on the city before the pandemic.
The Cockburn Association has been running a social media campaign encouraging its supporters to object to plans to revive a circus “big top” on a site on the Meadows where Fringe shows have been staged for more than 20 years. The group has suggested that the venue will “privatise” part of the Meadows with
a “commercial event with gated access”.
However, the Association has supported plans for the Edinburgh International Festival to stage most of its shows outdoors on three temporary sites this summer.
A new blog on the Association’s website by chairman Cliff Hague said the growth of cultural events since the launch of the EIF had “splurged out to embrace stand-up comedy show and circuses”. It was published amid huge uncertainty over what form Edinburgh’s festivals will take this summer.
Mrhaguewrote:“edinburgh attracts residents and visitors not primarily for its circuses and gigs, but because of its economicbaseinfinanceandpublic service, and its outstanding landscapes, public spaces and physical environments.”
In an exclusive interview, Ms Mccarthy said: “The word ‘commercial’ seems to imply that is somehow tainted or a dirty thing. People forget that it is not a funded festival. I don’t know how many times I have spoken about the model at the Fringe, where everybody comes and takes their own risks on it.
“I don’t see how paying to go to see the ballet or an opera is any different to paying to see a comedian. There is a real danger of a cultural snobbery here. There are some people who may never dream of going into a concert hall but would walk around and watch street performers at the Fringe and find real joy in that.”