Kath Mainland announced the launch of the new 2011 Edinburgh Fringe programme this morning and it's bigger than ever with 2,542 shows. Fringe 2011 has an estimated 21,192 performers giving 41,689 performances, an increase of about 4% on last year, which reaffirms the Edinburgh August Festivals as the largest art festival in the World.
This year, the Fringe have embraced technology: Apple iPhone apps are set to appear on the 23rd of this month, and a brand new Google Android app makes its appearance in July and August, enabling people to purchase tickets through this system, although you still have to pick them up from the ticket centres physically.
There are two new places where tickets can be collected: the Half Price Hut in the Mound Precinct and the University Visitor Centre in Charles Street, as well as the Fringe Office on the High street.
Kath Mainland who is the Fringe administrator, or Chief Executive of the Festival Fringe Society, commented on the recent BOP Edinburgh Festivals report.
”The recent BOP Edinburgh Festivals report impact study highlights that the Fringe alone is worth a staggering 141 million pounds to the local economy. But shining through this study is clear evidence of the quality that these festivals afford and the opportunities they present for artists and audiences from home and abroad which is without parallel in the world. I’d to pay tribute to the other Edinburgh Festivals, particularly our summer colleagues, for continuing to strive for, and achieving excellence, and to Festivals Edinburgh for working behind the scenes on all our behalfs’s. These are world class Festivals, taking place in a world class city”.