Arts funding threat - 'Cuts could send the festivals into decline'

Published on Friday 13 August 2010 12:59

THERE is always a buzz of excitement about Edinburgh in August as the city transforms into the bustling centre of the artistic universe.

But this year the dark clouds bringing the seemingly endless rain showers are not the only ones hovering over the world's biggest arts festival.

The threat of savage public spending cuts that could just send the festivals into a spiral of decline is troubling those who work in them.

It did not need Jonathan Mills, director of the Edinburgh International Festival - who this week warned he faces having to scale back the event in the coming years - to remind us that the arts are particularly vulnerable when the public purse strings are tightened.

Already, the UK Film Council has been scrapped, Creative Scotland is reviewing its core funding of more than 50 institutions, including the international, book and film festivals and the Traverse and Royal Lyceum theatres, while the city council has trimmed its festivals' grants.

It would be ridiculous, of course, to argue that the arts should escape any pain when, for instance, schools and hospitals are having to shoulder their share.

But at the same time, the city cannot afford to see the festivals shorn of funding in a way that damages their public appeal.

The money we pour into them is an investment and must be seen as such.

This year's film festival, for example, generated 8 in extra spending in the Capital for every 1 of public money it received.

The government-funded Thundering Hooves report estimated the summer festivals generate 142 million a year in extra spending across the Lothians, with around a third of that going to hotels and other accommodation providers.

Given the squeeze on public funds, and a need for continuing investment, the time seems right to revisit the idea of a "bed tax", possibly with guests asked to contribute 1 a night on a voluntary basis.

It may not be popular with many hoteliers, but they stand to lose as much as, if not more than, the rest of us.