PR firm helps capital festivals fight downturn

Published on Friday 6 February 2009 20:54

EDINBURGH'S festivals have brought in a leading Scottish PR firm to help fight the threat of a recession this summer.

Glasgow-based Burt Greener will spearhead the first joint marketing drive for events including the Fringe, International Festival and Tattoo. The capital's flagship events – worth about 135 million – are set to be heavily promoted together for the first time in rival cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool, as well as in key overseas locations.

Festivals Edinburgh, the umbrella group for the city's 12 main events, has won 450,000 in public funding to get the initiatives off the ground.

Internal reports produced by the city's festivals are believed to state that ticket sales may fall by up to 20 per cent over two years, while sponsorship could be hit to the same extent.

Burt Greener already works on major events such as T in the Park, the Cowal Highland Gathering and the World Pipe Band Championships, as well as with Irn-Bru, Ikea and Balblair whisky.