Humza Yousaf pledges to ensure Edinburgh’s festivals go ‘from strength to strength’

Humza Yousaf has pledged to ensure that Edinburgh’s festivals go from “strength to strength” in the wake of warnings they have been left “hanging by a precarious financial threadover” due to a long-term squeeze on their public funding.

The First Minister insisted his government was “fully committed” to supporting the capital’s major cultural events amid growing anger about the festivals being left on standstill public funding as they grapple with the impact of rising costs.

Speaking at an official reception for the festivals, Mr Yousaf said he fully recognised the value of the festivals to the entire country due to the huge return on investment they generate, the impact they have on Scotland's international reputation and the challenging work they showcase.

Edinburgh International Festival director Nicola Benedetti with First Minister Minister Humza Yousaf and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, honorary president of the Fringe Society at the Scottish Government's festivals reception. Picture Andrew Perry

He conceded it was “fair” for leading figures like Nicola Benedetti, the new director of the Edinburgh International Festival, to challenge the Scottish Government over the need to tackle funding pressures on the festivals.

Last week the violinist - the first Scot and the first female director in the role - said it was a "miracle" that the world's biggest cultural celebration was able to be staged in Edinburgh each summer given its low level of public subsidy compared to events elsewhere in Europe.

Benedetti, who has admitted to frustration at not being able to realise all of her plans for this year’s festival, said both the city and the country had to decide how much value it placed on being "one of the world's greatest festival cities."

She admitted the festival faced the prospect of having to "streamline" its programme in the next year, said the EIF could not "skimp" on the quality of productions and performers in its line-up, and needed a “mighty high” uplift in its funding to keep pace with rival events.

Addressing the audience of festival organisers, Mr Yousaf cited new research on the economic value of Edinburgh’s festivals, which are said to support more than 7000 jobs and be worth well over £400 million.

It was published earlier in the summer by umbrella body Festivals Edinburgh, which warned at the time that years of “declining investment” had left the city’s major cultural events “hanging by a precarious financial thread.”

Director Julia Amour said at the time: “There needs to be a serious effort between the culture sector and our funders and supporters to realign ambitions and resources.”

Mr Yousaf admitted at the government reception, which was held at the International Festival’s headquarters at The Hub, that politicians can be “deeply unpopular.”

However he said: “I want to thank you. These festivals happen because of incredible individuals. Each and everyone one of you has a huge team behind you.

“I’m sure you will be the first to recognise their efforts in putting these festivals on.

“I hope you will convey to your teams my thanks and the thanks of my government. I’m sure you will be the first to recognise their efforts in putting these festivals on.

"I want to reassure you of the importance that the government places not just on festivals, but on culture more generally.

"I can talk to you of course about the income our festivals generate, how significant they are not just for Edinburgh. We know how important culture is for cities, towns and villages across Scotland.

"For the government, culture is important for its own intrinsic sake. It is so important for who we are as a nation and so important because culture, festivals and performances challenge us and provoke us.

"From the government’s perspective, we really value culture for its own sake, and not just for what it does for us economically.

"But that is important, along with the jobs that are created. I don’t want to underplay that by any stretch of the imagination.

"The festivals are so important when you think of what they generate – more than £400 million last year.

"They of course enhance our already significant international reputation and make a great place to work, visit and live too.

"The amount of people I have come across over the years who first came to the city to either experience or perform in the festivals and now of course they live here.”

Mr Yousaf is making a number of public appearances at the festivals this month, as are his predecessors as First Minister, Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

He added: “I want to give you an assurance that we are absolutely committed (to the festivals).

“I’m not going to pretend that the finances aren’t challenging.

"I read the article in the paper, Nicola, challenging the government to ensure we put our money where our mouth is.

"That is a fair challenge to put to the government in terms of the funding situation. It is a difficult funding situation, of course it is.

"But what the country gets out of the festivals and the benefit the country gets is significant.”We will continue to work with you to make sure that the festivals collectively go from strength to strength. They are so important to us as a country and a nation.”

Mr Yousaf also paid tribute to Nick Barley, the outgoing director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, who is stepping down after this year’s event, and also wished his replacement, Jenny Niven, well.

However there was no specific mention of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which attracts the biggest audience of Edinburgh’s annual cultural events, in his speech, despite the presence of Fringe Society honorary president, Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

She was an unknown performer when the stage version of the hit TV show was launched in Edinburgh at Underbelly’s Cowgate venue exactly 10 years ago.

Exclusive:Humza Yousaf pledges to ensure Edinburgh’s festivals go ‘from strength to strength’

Comment Guidelines