Cash boost for Edinburgh festivals

The major public funders of Edinburgh’s festivals are collaborating to invest an extra £1m into the festivals’ 2014 programmes, in recognition of the high profile that Scotland’s cultural activities will have during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Homecoming Scotland 2014 showcase. The extra cash from the Scottish Government, the City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland and EventScotland will enable new events and projects that complement the programme already announced. Cllr Steve Cardownie, Festival and Events Champion at the City of Edinburgh Council said: “The City of Edinburgh Council recognises the economic, cultural and social value of the festivals, generating £261m to the Scottish economy of which £245m benefits the Edinburgh economy every year… 64% of residents have attended a festival in the last two years and we are delighted to continue to support the ever increasing ambitions of the festivals …” The funding announcement follows the news that Edinburgh will also host the second Edinburgh International Culture Summit this summer, with the world’s cultural leaders and culture ministers gathering in the city for dialogue and debate between policy makers and artists. The second World Fringe Congress will also meet in the city, to enable directors and organisers of fringes from around the world to share ideas and experiences.