Three key projects to show what Edinburgh's tourist tax can achieve
City culture chiefs want three key projects finished and open within three years to show what Edinburgh's new tourist tax can achieve.
The Visitor Levy, which comes into effect in July, is expected to help fund the renovation of Leith Theatre, the completion of the old Royal High School's conversion into a National Centre for Music, and a refurbishment of the City Art Centre.
The city council is aiming to have all three capital projects "done, dusted and open" within the first three years of the levy.
Edinburgh will be the first city in the UK to introduce a tourist tax and Margaret Graham, convener of the city council’s culture and communities committee, said it would give the Capital “vast opportunities”.
She said: “Edinburgh is such a tourist destination, with a reputation throughout the world. This is going to give us an amazing opportunity to keep it in the forefront.”
Revenue from the Visitor Levy would be used to borrow £5m to help restore Leith Theatre, which has not been in permanent use since 1983, and enable it to operate as a year-round live music and cultural space with a capacity for around 1200.
The venue was awarded £4.5m National Lottery funding last year, so the council says the money from the Visitor Levy would allow it to open in 2029.
A report to councillors says: "This would preserve an important heritage building and expand cultural provision in Edinburgh outwith the city centre.”
Another £3m would be borrowed to invest in the £77m project to turn the historic old Royal High School on Calton Hill into a National Centre for Music with new performance and rehearsal spaces, a recording studio, learning facilities, a cafe, event spaces and public gardens with panoramic city views attracting an estimated 290,000 visitors annually.
The project, which comes after the rejection of previous plans to turn the building into a luxury hotel, is due for completion in mid-2028.
The bulk of the cost is being met by arts philanthropist Carol Grigor through her Dunard Fund charity, which is also providing a bridging loan to cover the remaining funding gap and enable the project to be completed.
And Visitor Levy money will be used to borrow £2.75m to invest in upgrading the City Art Centre and creating a visual arts hub, bringing together the City Art Centre and the Fruitmarket Gallery across the road.
The two buildings would retain their names and identities but there would be shared programming and joint marketing.
The proposals will be debated at the culture and communities committee next week, with a final decision due to be taken by full council at the end of February.