Report calls for Scottish Executive to up Edinburgh festival funding

Published Tuesday 30 May 2006 at 18:35 by Nuala Calvi

The Scottish Executive should give the City of Edinburgh Council more money to help it support its festivals better and fight off competition from arts events around the world, according to a new report.

Thundering Hooves, an independent report commissioned by the Scottish Arts Council, recommends that the council increases its cultural spend from 2.8% to 4% and develops an investment plan for the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and others over the next five years.

It warns that the city is vulnerable to the threat posed by new festivals in Europe and elsewhere in the UK and “cannot risk complacency”, suggesting a forum be set up to keep an eye on Edinburgh’s position as a leading festival city.

Responding to the report, Edinburgh International Festival director Brian McMaster told The Stage: “It’s great they are saying the council should give 4% but that’s a long way down the line. The important thing is the report says stakeholders have to come up with more money to keep the quality of what we present and enable us to be at the forefront of festivals internationally.”

Among those cities posing a threat to Edinburgh are Manchester, which will have a new cultural festival every other year that is better funded than EIF, and Liverpool, which will be European Capital of Culture in 2008, McMaster said.

Culture minister Patricia Ferguson commented: “Every summer Edinburgh becomes the cultural capital of the world attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists from every corner of the globe. It is a status the city has enjoyed for more than 50 years but envious rivals are now seeking to emulate and even surpass Edinburgh’s pre-eminent role.

“We know we cannot be complacent and should take note of the recommendation in this report for improved co-operation between all the festivals, the City Council and other agencies. I am pleased that the Scottish Arts Council has agreed to take the lead and co-ordinate improved partnerships between all the key players. By working together we can build on this success to enhance Edinburgh’s reputation as the world’s greatest festival city.”