Edinburgh's Festivals handed £2m slice from Government arts fund

The Scottish Government has announced a £2 million injection into Edinburgh's Festivals over the coming financial year. The funding forms part of the Government's Expo Fund and will be shared between the 12 members of Festivals Edinburgh to support the development of Scottish-based work. Events to benefit from the cash include Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the International Festival, Fringe Festival and Book Festival.

Speaking about the £2m package, Faith Liddell, director of Festivals Edinburgh, said the money would allow directors to create a "rich portfolio of projects".

Tim Hawkins, general manager of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, added: "As cities around the world increasingly recognise the value of setting up and supporting festivals, the Festival Fringe is grateful to the Government for recognising that this kind of investment is necessary so it can remain both the leading fringe festival and the world's largest arts festival."

Since January 2008 Festivals Edinburgh and The Audience Business have been working in collaboration to develop a unique digital hub for Edinburgh’s 12 major Festivals.

Festivals Edinburgh leads on the joint strategic development of Edinburgh’s 12 major Festivals and the digital hub is at the heart of this new organisation’s marketing strategy and plan which aims to raise awareness of Edinburgh’s world renowned Festivals nationally and internationally. The plan focuses on attracting new audiences to Edinburgh’s Festivals, enhancing the visitors’ Festival’s experience and maintaining the reputation of Edinburgh’s Festivals as a ‘must visit’ international cultural experience.