Public funders of Edinburgh’s Festivals agree to increased investment of £3.2m
Public funders in Edinburgh have agreed to invest in the expansion of Edinburgh’s Festivals, with additional world premieres, new commissions and international gatherings to be included.
The Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland and Creative Scotland have agreed to an increased investment of £3.2million into the programme, with the Festivals’ peak summer period coinciding with the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said: “Edinburgh’s Festivals are known all over the world and provide a platform to showcase our rich culture and exceptional creative talent, as well as raise the international profile of Scotland. That is why we are expanding the Expo Fund, increasing our support for Edinburgh's Festivals to £2.25 million.”
Highlights announced today include the world premiere of a new work by James MacMillan; a series of major public art commissions in the New Town; a World Dance Feste; the first ever World Fringe Congress; a World Jazz Orchestra directed by Joe Temperley; and The Edinburgh World Writers' Conference 2012.
Lady Susan Rice, chair of the Festivals Forum, said: “This announcement is wonderful recognition from our public funders of the value of Edinburgh’s Festivals.
“Internationalism, excellence and the nurturing of talent are at the core of Edinburgh’s Festivals, as they are in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we are committed to capitalising our enormous global value for the benefit of Scotland, in this The Year of Creative Scotland and in the years to come.”