The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is being put in “jeopardy”, its organisers have claimed as they hit out at council leaders over funding.
Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, claimed the funding situation shows the city is not “serious about being a cultural capital”.
He added that while the Fringe – the world’s largest arts festival – has an annual return worth “around £500 million” to the Scottish capital, the City of Edinburgh Council this year provided organisers with just £75,000.
That is due to rise next year to £78,750, but festival bosses are seeking an annual grant of £1.7 million from the local authority, saying this could come from cash raised by its new visitor levy.
This would enable improved support for both venues and performers, Mr Lankester argued.
Writing in The Scotsman, he said: “We are asking the council to demonstrate its commitment to an asset the world reveres and that adds value to its own backyard.”
Mr Lankester said the Fringe made up about 85% of the 3.2 million festival tickets issued in Edinburgh in August – when the city hosts a number of arts events.
He said: “We estimate the Fringe’s annual return to this city at around £500 million.
“That upside is felt all year, as restaurants, bars and small businesses cite the August boom as the thing that keeps them afloat.
“Ask any capital in the world what it would contribute to an event issuing 2.6 million tickets. The answer would not be £78,750.”
Mr Lankester claimed the funding provided by the council is in “stark” contrast to that provided to similar events overseas – citing the example of Adelaide in Australia.
The festival there, which is the second largest in the world and was “inspired” by the Edinburgh event, receives 290,000 Australian dollars (£152,000), despite issuing 42% of the tickets of the Edinburgh Fringe, he said.
Mr Lankester said: “That is what it looks like when a city is serious about being a cultural capital, and serious about protecting the golden goose rather than putting it in jeopardy.”
Speaking for the Fringe Society, he added: “We are asking the council to demonstrate its commitment to an asset the world reveres and that adds value to its own backyard.
“The Fringe was born in Edinburgh and is proud to call it home. It would be good to know the feeling is mutual.”
Councillor Margaret Graham, the council’s culture and communities convener, said the city’s festivals are “a fundamental part of what makes Edinburgh such a popular and enjoyable destination, and they also make a notable contribution to the city’s communities and economy”.
She insisted the culture sector would “be able to benefit from a range of new and expanded funding opportunities through the visitor levy”.
Ms Graham said the council will be “discussing opportunities to provide more support to other projects and initiatives at a special committee meeting later this month”.
She added: “By directing this funding in the most effective way, we can support and uplift our existing strategic partners, who haven’t changed over the past 10 years, while also ensuring that those not currently receiving support have a genuine opportunity to access funding.
“It is important our approach does not unintentionally exclude organisations and that funding is accessible to a diverse range of organisations and projects across the city.
“Altogether, the proposals will allow us to fund a range of exciting and innovative projects and support existing work that will create a stronger and more resilient cultural sector in the city.”
