Edinburgh locals have hit out at news that the Scottish Government spent £400,000 worth of funding on the 15 minute drone show produced for Edinburgh's Hogmanay during the pandemic
According to reports in the Scotsman, event producer Underbelly secured thousands of pounds from three different Scottish Government funding pots for the Fare Well project.
Organisers Underbelly, who have an £800,000 contract with Edinburgh City Council to provide the city's New Year celebrations, also secured £281,353 and £98,460 for the Fare Well project from Creative Scotland and EventScotland respectively
It has also been confirmed by the paper that Underbelly received a further £250,000 in 'lifeline' support from the Scottish Government to help them during the pandemic.
More than three million people from across the world tuned in to watch Edinburgh's Hogmanay drone show, but many locals have called the amount of funding spent on the project 'scandalous'.
Upon hearing the news, one local said: "I am waiting to hear whether we’ve been successful in obtaining £10k of funding for free performance arts and film classes in Muirhouse to help remove obstacles to participation within the Arts + to support the wellbeing and mental health of our young people. Money well spent?"
Another hit out: "This, if true, is frigggin scandalous. There are soooo many better ways of spending this kind of money right now."
"An absolute disgrace," added another: "I can’t think of a worse way to spend almost half a million pounds when Scotland and its people are facing economic armageddon."
But not everyone agreed it was a bad choice of funds, with one person adding: "And it was gloriously uplifting."
Another resident agreed, penning: "And how wonderfully uplifting it was. A sense of community & hope."
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A government spokeswoman said: “In the very earliest days of the pandemic we honoured funding commitments for Scotland’s cultural organisations, regardless of whether activity had to be cancelled, reduced or rescheduled, and we repurposed regular funding to help with the COVID-19 response.
"Our support for Edinburgh Hogmanay has been provided due to its central role in the celebration of Scotland’s winter festivals, its unique potential to showcase Scotland’s culture, creativity and values on the national and international stage in these challenging times, and to enable audiences around the world to enjoy Edinburgh's Hogmanay while staying safe at home.”
