Bank boss leads city's fight to stay No 1 for festivals

Published on Tuesday 22 April 2008 22:03

A BANKING chief was named yesterday to lead Edinburgh's battle to retain its title as the world's leading festival city.

Susan Rice, the chief executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland, will chair the Festivals Forum, which was set up in the wake of the "Thundering Hooves" report that looked at the growing competition the capital faced from other festivals.

Under Ms Rice, the bank has been a leading supporter of the arts in Scotland, working with Bafta Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland, the Edinburgh International Festival and other bodies. She has chaired the Edinburgh International Book Festival since 2001.

She said the festivals, "with their ever-increasing prestige on the global stage" played a major role in the city's success, adding: "Maintaining the high calibre of the combined festivals is vital."

In recent days, there have been new calls for public funding of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, after financial troubles meant the organisers of a new venue, Aurora Nova, having to withdraw from this year's event.

The festivals have also faced frequent calls for better marketing, accommodation and transport.

The forum has also appointed three new members: John McCormick, the former controller of BBC Scotland and chairman of the Edinburgh International Film Festival; Dr Andrew Cubie, the former chairman of CBI Scotland; and Michael Hayman, chief executive of the Communications Group.