Jonathan Mills: World-spanning fest of ideas and creativity

As people reacted to what we are doing this year, I thought about a trio of remarkable individuals, each of whom, in a very different way, have inspired this year’s programme for the Edinburgh International Festival.

They were not celebrities, not great virtuosi, nor acclaimed stars of stage or screen. They were, or are, ordinary people, each motivated by particular circumstances, to encourage something remarkable.

When in the late 19th century, Pierre de Coubertin first suggested a revival of an ancient Greek festival, he lit the Olympic torch which continues to burn brightly, in a spirit which is “neither the property of one race nor one age”. He did so in the fervent hope that such a flame might “pursue its way through the ages, increasing friendly understanding among nations, for the good of humanity”.

In 1947, the then lord provost of Edinburgh, Sir John Falconer, introducing a very different kind of festival for a nation in dire need of a dose of optimism, urged all involved to think of it as “a platform for the flowering of the human spirit”. Sixty-five years later, and this ambition is at the heart of everything we do.

Since April last year, a former MP has been walking from Mount Olympus to Westminster. His name is Michael Bates. He is due to arrive back in the UK in May. Lord Bates’ journey intends to draw attention to one of the most profound aspects of any Olympic occasion, known in ancient Greek as ékécheiria, literally meaning a “laying down of arms”; an Olympic truce. He hopes that his expedition will encourage greater respect for the peaceful intentions of this summer’s sporting celebrations. The role that the Edinburgh International Festival has chosen to play in 2012 is an enhancement of the part we have been playing, ever since our founding; as a catalyst for powerful ideas and creativity from throughout the world.

I am particularly keen to offer a festival programme this year that suggests ways of expanding our idea of the locus of the performing arts, of spectacle and of theatrical space itself.

Our most ambitious undertaking this year is the transformation of the huge cavernous space of the Lowland Hall at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, into a place where three great theatrical minds, Grzegorz Jarzyna, Christoph Marthaler and Ariane Mnouchkine can work their particular blend of make-believe.

Our broadcast partner BBC Radio 3 has increased the number of concerts going out to the nation this year, and in addition will broadcast “live” from the Queen’s Hall – a visionary partnership of which we are justifiably proud.

Nowhere is the idea of expanding the location of the festival more evident than in NVA’s Speed of Light, a unique fusion of innovative public art and sporting endeavour which aims to animate Arthur’s Seat each evening as the mass participation of runners, wearing specially designed light suits, and the walking audience carrying light staffs lights up our favourite iconic hill.

We also seek to extend opportunities to a new generation of artists. The Juilliard Dance ensemble from New York; the European Union Youth Orchestra and Gustav Mahler Jungendorchester and an array of young performers making their festival debuts; most especially Nicola Benedetti, Venezuelan bass baritone Luca Pisaroni and pianists Francesco Piemontesi and Daniil Trifonov.

That culture matters to nations is beyond dispute and with our partners the Scottish Government, the UK government and the British Council, the Festival will help to host a meeting for culture ministers from across the world in our Scottish Parliament.

We are very proud that in this special year for the UK and in the Year of Creative Scotland, we have events that are also part of the London 2012 Festival and the World Shakespeare Festival. Edinburgh this year stands shoulder to shoulder with the Olympics.

2012 is an adventure and we hope that as many people as possible share in the part the Edinburgh International Festival has to play.

• Jonathan Mills is director of the Edinburgh International Festival