Edinburgh International Book Festival fans have reasons to be excited as it leaves Charlotte Square Gardens – Scotsman comment

Edinburgh International Book Festival’s decision to leave its home of 37 years in Charlotte Square Gardens may feel like the end of a most fascinating chapter in the lives of those who regard the event as one of the great joys of Scotland’s capital.
Edinburgh International Book Festival was staged in Charlotte Square Gardens between 1983 and 2019. Picture: Robin MairEdinburgh International Book Festival was staged in Charlotte Square Gardens between 1983 and 2019. Picture: Robin Mair
Edinburgh International Book Festival was staged in Charlotte Square Gardens between 1983 and 2019. Picture: Robin Mair

Nick Barley, its director, promised that the new location, at Edinburgh College of Art, would recreate the “village green” atmosphere that won over so many people, almost as much as the words and wisdom of all the many great writers who have appeared there over the years.

Like the Fringe, the Book Festival has become a star in its own right and many would want to be there almost regardless of names in the programme.

Read More
Edinburgh International Book Festival to move from Charlotte Square to art colle...
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The move is partly because of the need to cut costs – it is normally about £1 million to set up the book festival in the gardens – ahead of a decision about whether audiences will be allowed to return in person, rather than online, later this year.

But the organisers also hope to stage the event in a “more environmentally responsible way” amid concern about damage to the gardens by the sheer numbers of people who want to be there, a record 265,000 in 2019 and there is a need for broadcast studios as it is likely that most events will take place online even if audiences are able to return in person.

Some may feel sadness as a much-loved chapter ends, but the fresh start of a new home and the ability to reach a vast worldwide audience are surely reasons to be more than a little excited about what the next will bring.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.

Related topics:

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.