Hunt for venues to showcase Festival stars in New York

Published on Thursday 29 March 2007 11:46

LEADERS of Edinburgh's festivals are in New York to find venues for a week-long showcase of the Capital's flagship events.

Talks are taking place ahead of next week's Tartan Week over the creation of a series of events to spark interest in the US in Edinburgh's cultural extravaganzas.

The Scottish Executive and the city council have joined forces to fund a 30,000 feasibility study into the idea.

It is hoped the events, which would be open to the public, would generate similar levels of interest in New York to those triggered by the staging of the Tattoo in Australia and New Zealand.

Organisers hope the week of events could even take place in New York's famous Madison Square Gardens arena.

Pete Irvine, the creator of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations, and Faith Liddell, the new head of the Festivals Edinburgh organisation, will be in New York next week for the Tartan Week celebrations to search for venues.

Lord Provost Lesley Hinds said the event was aimed at offering a "high-profile taster" of the city's festivals and would ideally be staged next year as a perfect forerunner to the Year of Homecoming - a nationwide initiative to persuade people from overseas to visit Scotland in 2009.

Councillor Hinds said: "The potential impact of high-profile events in New York during Tartan Week is huge, and could have a major influence on tourism and investment in Edinburgh and Scotland.

"But these kinds of events take a long time to organise, so we need to start planning early - something that would not be possible without support from the Scottish Executive.

"Taking the Tattoo to New York has been discussed for some time but it was felt it would be great if we could look at an event that showcases the other events as well." Finance Minister Tom McCabe said: "This excellent initiative will explore the feasibility of staging major events in New York during Tartan Week, to promote modern Scotland and inspiring Edinburgh.

"It is an exciting project which could ensure Tartan Week continues to go from strength-to-strength and we are pleased to able to support it."

The heads of the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Film Festival will also be in New York next week for the first joint promotion of the city's showpiece events during Tartan Week.

Funnyman Craig Hill will be hosting a major Fringe showcase at the Public Theater, in Manhattan, on April 1, and on the same day, Fringe director Paul Gudgin will be hosting a workshop on how to take a show to Edinburgh.

Tartan Week will also see Festival representatives woo potential sponsors and show producers at a private dinner, and a reception held for travel trade representatives and media.

Commuters travelling through Grand Central Station will be able to find out more about the city's festivals, and a dedicated stand will be set up in the "Scottish Village" organised by VisitScotland.

It is hoped this year's activities will be the platform for a far more ambitious event next year, which could be staged in Madison Square Gardens.

Ms Liddell said: "It's just too early to say what format the event could take, how much it may cost or where it could be staged. That's exactly what the feasibility study will look at.

"The key thing is to ensure it is a public event that has a big impact in New York and generates interest in the festivals from the media and travel trade."