Achi news desk-
Over the weekend, Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Association, described the current level of support from the Scottish Government for what is the world’s biggest arts festival, as “a national embarrassment.”
His comments follow the cancellation of this year’s Aye Write festival after Creative Scotland rejected an application for a £77,500 grant.
READ MORE: Aye Write book festival canceled after funding request rejected
MLAs are due to discuss Scotland’s international culture strategy this afternoon.
Scottish Labour’s culture spokesman, Neil Bibby, said: “The Scottish festival is world famous, but the SNP is standing idly by as it falls apart.
“We are already seeing the consequences of the SNP-Green government’s disastrous cut to Creative Scotland with the loss of Aye Write, and more could follow if we do not act.
“Urgent action must be taken to support Scotland’s iconic arts sector and the huge economic, social and cultural benefits it brings.
“The SNP must urgently convene an emergency summit and develop a plan to save Scotland’s holidays.”
Speaking to The Scotsman, Ms McCarthy said it was becoming “almost impossible” to achieve the Fringe.
The Finge Society, which runs the 77-year-old open access festival, has a financial deficit of around £400,000. They have recently had two applications for financial support rejected by Creative Scotland.
Ms McCarthy called on the Scottish Government to agree an emergency grant of £1 million, and regular core funding of around £250,000 annually from the Scottish Government and £150,000 from the council.
He told the paper: “We have been offered a cross-agency meeting but we still don’t have a date for it. I have written to everyone setting out the current situation and what the meeting needs to address him. lead to a direct answer about investing.”
READ MORE: Gail Porter has ‘priced out’ of attending Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Ms McCarthy said that the only meaningful support the Fringe had secured in the past year had come from the UK Government, which has agreed to bankroll a new headquarters for the festival and invest in a new support fund for artists.
He said: “When you ask people if they really want the festival they will say: ‘Don’t be ridiculous. The Fringe is absolutely vital to Scotland’s cultural ecology. We recognize how important it is.’
“But they’re still willing to let it fall through the cracks. It’s just not sustainable, it’s not sustainable and something has to be done about it. We get warm words and looks sympathetic, but what good is that to anyone.” ?”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Despite the challenging financial situation the UK is facing, Scottish Ministers have increased funding for the culture sector from £15.8m to almost £200m this financial year, as the step first towards fulfilling the Prime Minister’s commitment to invest at least. £100m more every year in culture and the arts by 2028/29.
“We appreciate the significance of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – and the wider Edinburgh Festival – and are committed to supporting this world-renowned event.
“In 2023/24 and also in 2022/23, we awarded £550,000 to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society for its Made in Scotland programme.
“We will continue to work with the culture sector to identify barriers to immediate and long-term recovery, and do everything within our limited devolved powers and resources to help those most affected by the current economic challenges.”
