More funding for Edinburgh Festivals 70th anniversary year
3 March 2017
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop today [3rd March 2017] announced a major investment in Scottish talent, as she provided details of EXPO funded projects for Edinburgh’s Festivals in their 70th anniversary year.
The Scottish Government’s funding will provide investment in skills and talent development and support projects across generations that connect with Scotland’s culturally and geographically diverse communities.
The funded projects this year all support the development of Scottish artists and creative expression, while raising the profile of Scotland through ambitious and innovative events at Edinburgh’s Festivals throughout the year.
The £2.3 million allocated through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund in 2017/18 takes the amount awarded to more than £19 million since 2008.
The first of this year’s supported projects will be Talent Lab, part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s programme of support for new and emerging filmmakers. Ms Hyslop met with young filmmakers at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh, to hear how Scottish Government support has allowed them to develop their skills and talent. She said
This funding for Edinburgh’s Festivals will see investment in the skills and talent of both emerging and established artists here in Scotland, which supports the development of new international opportunities, networks and partnerships among festivals.
As Edinburgh Festivals celebrate their 70th anniversary, it is a time for our artists to dream, reflect, invent and celebrate by bringing Scotland to the world and the world to Scotland through arts and culture. I look forward to seeing the cultural excellence of our world renowned festivals over the coming months.
The Scottish Government EXPO funding cycle kicks off with the Edinburgh International Film Festival which will receive £110,000 and today I had the opportunity to meet with some of our up and coming film talent in Edinburgh. I’m proud that this funding has helped our young people access the film industry by offering a range of activities to inspire and support their careers.
Ken Hay, Chair of Festivals Edinburgh said:
The Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund drives programme innovation and ensures Scottish artists have a pre-eminent place on the most global of Scotland’s cultural platforms to showcase our creative, outward looking nation. We are delighted that in this special 70th anniversary year the Expo Fund will again help us to define that national reputation, while we also renew our founding purpose and reassert our role as an international cultural capital.
Lorna Duguid, Multi-artform Manager, Creative Scotland, said:
The continuing support from the Scottish Government EXPO fund enables Edinburgh’s festivals to showcase the outstanding range of work produced by Scottish artists. 2017 is a special year of celebration, marking the 70th anniversary of Edinburgh’s status as the world’s leading festival city recognised globally for its art, culture and creativity. This funding will enable the creation and exhibition of new work and create important connections that will showcase Scotland’s rich creative talent internationally.
The Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund assessment process and funding is administered by Creative Scotland, with input from Event Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Festivals Edinburgh and City of Edinburgh Council.
The 2017/18 EXPO Fund has a budget of £2.1m for Edinburgh’s Festivals and £200,000 is provided to Festivals Edinburgh to promote and position Edinburgh as the world’s leading festival city.
The funded Expo projects are listed in the download below and full programme details will be announced at the launch of individual festival programmes in due course.