Edinburgh Festival Overcomes Pandemic Challenges, But Faces Funding Concerns
The Edinburgh festival is set to return next week, marking the first time in three years that the event will not be overshadowed by Covid-19. The festival, which annually attracts millions of visitors and transforms Scotland’s capital city into a vibrant hub of culture and entertainment, has navigated through the shockwaves of the pandemic. However, this year’s optimism is tinged with concerns over rising living costs and funding shortages that threaten the future of the event.
In 2020, the festival was canceled as the city went into lockdown, and when it returned in 2021, it did so in a scaled-back format. Last year, ticket sales rebounded while the festival was still in recovery mode.
As the opening of the festival draws closer, signs of vibrancy are beginning to reemerge outside the offices of the Fringe Society, the organization responsible for the month-long arts extravaganza. Street performers are entertaining large crowds, building anticipation for the festival’s opening on August 4.
Shona McCarthy, CEO of the Fringe Society, expressed her excitement about this year’s festival, stating, Everybody has been so preoccupied by survival that this year feels like it’s genuinely right back to the heart of it.
However, last year’s planning for the festival’s in-person return was challenging due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions in Scotland, making it difficult to forecast sales and attendances accurately. Adding to the difficulties was the cost of living crisis, which saw performers struggling to find affordable accommodation amidst rising rents, food prices, and fuel costs.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival also faced a challenging year in 2021. Nick Barley, the festival’s outgoing director, described it as traumatic, as it missed its sales targets and had to cut five staff positions. Despite these challenges, Barley remained optimistic, relying on well-known figures such as poet and novelist Ben Okri and climate activist Greta Thunberg to attract large crowds this year.
Thunberg’s appearance at the book festival, her first in Scotland since Glasgow hosted COP26 in 2021, sold out rapidly, reflecting the public’s interest in hearing her speak.
The theme of this year’s Fringe festival is Fill Yer Boots, which playfully encourages attendees to enjoy as many shows as possible, highlighting the organizers’ heightened expectations.
As for the Edinburgh International Festival, renowned Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, who makes her debut as director, draws inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s final book, Where do we go from here? The question echoes the uncertainty surrounding the future of Edinburgh’s festivals, as the arts face precarious financial challenges. McCarthy warned that the Fringe, which relies on a self-funding model, cannot sustain itself without regular public funding.
The pressure to keep ticket prices low while facing rising costs remains a significant concern for the festival. This year, the Fringe will host just over 3,000 shows, down from 3,841 in 2019. The festival has maintained frozen registration prices for artists for the past 16 years and aims to continue doing so until 2027. Additionally, a fund called Keep it Fringe has been launched to support emerging acts and their riskier work.
While emergency support from the Scottish government helped the festival during the pandemic, regular support is needed to acknowledge the event’s crucial economic role. Culture is not ‘nice to have’ and it isn’t just about what happens on the stage… there is a whole economy around it, stressed Lyndsey Jackson, deputy chief executive of the Fringe Society.
This year’s festival lineup will feature strong political themes, reflecting recent events such as Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation as first minister and the ongoing investigation into the Scottish National Party’s finances. Hashi Mohamed, a prominent barrister and former child refugee from Kenya, will be interviewed by Sturgeon’s successor, Humza Yousaf, while Sturgeon’s predecessor and political adversary, Alex Salmond, will also host a show at the Fringe.
The Edinburgh festivals are known for their diversity, and this year is no exception. The international festival will host the Budapest Festival Orchestra, renowned for their innovative performances, including autism-friendly concerts. In a unique twist, the orchestra will perform without seats, allowing audience members to interact more closely with the musicians.
As the festivals approach, excitement and anticipation fill the air. However, it is essential to acknowledge the financial challenges and ensure that consistent support is in place to secure the future of these celebrated cultural events.
