Festivals expo cash spared from cuts

Festival bosses have welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to continue the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund with £2 million funding for next year.

The fund, set up in 2007, has enabled more than 4000 performances from 40 Scottish-based companies and artists to reach global audiences.

It was widely expected that spending pressures would mean an end to such funding but in the budget announced on Wednesday, the Government said the fund would continue for 2011/12, investing 2m across the Capital's 12 festivals and providing a platform for growth.

A Fringe Society spokesman said: "We welcome the news that the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund has been extended for another year.

"The fund has been a proven success."

But he added: "Most of the public funding the Fringe Society receives is delivered by the city council and Creative Scotland and obviously it will still be some time before either body is able to indicate to us what they propose for the coming year."