Edinburgh festivals face cash crisis as SNP can't commit to Expo Fund

SCOTLAND'S culture minister has refused to guarantee the future of a scheme which has supported dozens of home-grown productions at Edinburgh's festivals over the last three years.

Fiona Hyslop admitted she cannot commit to another year of the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund - which ploughed an extra 6 million into the capital's showpiece events - in the face of expected spending cuts.

The introduction of the fund was a manifesto commitment from the SNP following years of protests that the festivals did not receive enough direct government support.

But Ms Hyslop said it was not possible to say whether the fund would continue, due to uncertainty over the Scottish Government's next budget.

She insisted a final decision on whether the scheme - which supported major productions like Caledonia, Roadkill and Cargo in Edinburgh this summer - would be revived.

Despite the lack of certainty over the fund, Ms Hyslop said it had proved to be a "great success", particularly at this year's Fringe, with a number of funded projects scooping top awards.

All of the capital's major festivals have benefited from the fund. Financial support is often made available to promote that work overseas after it has been unveiled in Scotland.

The lack of certainty over the Expo Fund is another cloud on the horizon for the festivals, which are braced for budget cuts from the City of Edinburgh Council and new arts agency Creative Scotland over the next few years. It makes up a huge chunk of the estimated 7.5 million annual public subsidy for the capital's cultural showpieces.

Ms Hyslop's warnings have emerged just weeks after Steve Cardownie, the city council's festivals champion, warned of the potential risk to Edinburgh's economy if its major events were targeted for cuts.

But Ms Hyslop insisted Westminster spending cuts are to blame for the lack of clarity.

She told The Scotsman: "I cannot make any guarantees or commitments at this stage. I cannot say if it will continue, even with reduced funds. There will be no decisions until after the spending review in the autumn.

"I was involved in the initial discussions which saw the pledge to introduce it included in the SNP manifesto.

"I do believe that it has been a great success, especially this year's Made in Scotland programme at the Fringe."

The Scotsman revealed last month that the city's festivals had been hopeful of the Expo Fund continuing.

Ms Hyslop added: "I am obviously having discussions with the festivals at the moment. They realise we have to deal with a difficult financial situation."

Ron Hewitt, chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, which is in favour of a voluntary scheme, said: "I doubt that the festivals will be seen as an easy target, as we know they are worth in the region of 200 million to Scotland's economy."