Sparks fly over Fringe future

Published on Friday 29 August 2008 21:40

THE Edinburgh Festival Fringe is in desperate need of extra public funding and a rethink of the role of its chief to help lead it out of its current crisis, its new board members have warned.

Tommy Sheppard and Charlie Wood – major promoters at the Fringe – are demanding significant extra investment, the scrapping of the director's position and an emphasis on marketing and rearing new talent.

They are urging the creation of a new "figurehead" role at the Fringe, possibly a chief executive, with a hugely improved salary after the departure of the previous director Jon Morgan after just over a year in the post.

The Fringe Society is also being urged to accept the creation of two other senior posts to take charge of administration and box office, and its commercial development, including securing sponsorship.

The Fringe is estimated to be worth well over 80 million to the nation's economy, yet receives only 50,000 in public subsidy from the City of Edinburgh Council.

The Edinburgh International Festival receives 4 million in public funding and has a programming budget of more than 8 million.

The Fringe director's post has carried a salary of up to 50,000 – around half of that of Jonathan Mills, director of the EIF.

Mr Sheppard, director of the Stand Comedy Club, elected to the Fringe board earlier this month, said it was "shocking" that the world's biggest arts festival received only 50,000 in public funding while more than 4 million was put into the Edinburgh International Festival.

He told The Scotsman: "The funding for the Fringe is just pitiful when you consider it's the world's biggest arts festival. It's shocking that it receives so little compared to the Edinburgh International Festival when you consider the benefits it brings.

"Although the Fringe does not programme any shows, it could do a huge amount with reasonable public funding, particularly in terms of rearing new talent. There should be year-round work going on with school drama and music departments.

"The Fringe should be looking to recruit some of the best people in the country to take charge of the box office, sponsorship and development work. To do that, it needs significant additional funding.

"We need to look at the whole role of the head of the Fringe in the context of the wider review that will be going on. However, we do need a leader, someone who can be an inspiration and motivator, and a strategist, to look at the Fringe's place in the city, in the UK as a whole and its context in the world."

Mr Wood added: "The Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world and I do believe we should be looking to attract a real world-class individual.

"The title of a director is a bit of a misnomer and suggests that the role is more creative than it actually is. We should be looking to create a role of chief executive and look at the kind of salary the position would attract."

Nica Burns, director of the Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards, the biggest on the Fringe, said: "The amount of funding the Fringe attracts is risible at the moment. Having a proper chief executive is a fantastic idea and would help the Fringe take a much more proactive role."

Steve Cardownie, the council's festivals and events champion, said: "I don't think there is any need to panic at the moment.

"The Fringe has enjoyed great success over the years and there have been a number of factors to consider this year. We are content to wait to see the results of the various reviews."