The Edinburgh Jazz Festival is to receive £49,370 from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund for an annual Scottish Jazz Expo.
The Expo Fund was launched on 27 March 2008 with the aim of supporting the development of Scottish-based work through Edinburgh's 12 main Festivals. The fund can also be used to support touring of events or
performances after their premiere at the festival and allow successful
work to reach new audiences.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the UK's biggest jazz festival will use the Expo funding to provide a high-profile programme showcasing the biggest talents in Scottish jazz.
"The increased exposure talented Scottish artists gain from the Expo will raise the profile of the Scottish jazz scene here and internationally. I'm excited to see such a varied programme that will appeal to newcomers to jazz and aficionados alike," said Culture Minister Linda Fabiani.
"The Government's Expo Fund demonstrates our ongoing commitment to
supporting the capital's festivals and recognising them as
international showcases for Scottish work."
The announcement was made a week ago, but the programme has, at time of writing, yet to be published online at the new Scottish Jazz Expo web site (see related links).
Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund
The Edinburgh Jazz Festival is the sixth project to receive funding from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.
The planned expenditure for the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund is £6 million over three years (2008-2009 to 2011-2012).
Resources of £1.308 million have been allocated in 2008-09. The assessment process and funding is administered by the Scottish Arts Council.
The main role for co-ordinating and delivering the portfolio of Expo projects falls to Festivals Edinburgh, led by Faith Liddell. A panel comprising members of the Thundering Hooves steering group and Festivals Forum has recommended the projects for funding in 2008-09.
As previously announced, the Edinburgh International Festival successfully bid for £277,000 from the Expo Fund and the Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival of Theatre for Children and Young People received £26,400.
The Expo Fund also provided £215,000 towards Edinburgh's Hogmanay Feet First event - a new project which will showcase a wide range of outdoor entertainment from the best local and national Scottish artists.
Funding of £41,492 for the Edinburgh Mela Festival and £60,000 for the Edinburgh International Film Festival was announced last month.
The remaining successful projects will be announced in due course.