Rowena Comrie: Charging artists will spoil the city's festival

THE Scottish Artists Union is disappointed at the introduction of a charge for participation by the Edinburgh Arts Festival, as your arts correspondent Tim Cornwell reported.

The invitation to apply stating "Successful applicants will be asked to pay a 250 participation fee" (escalating to 5,000) will make it impossible for many emerging artists and art spaces to participate, and reinforces a dangerous tendency to elitism where only those that can afford to contribute are represented.

The festival has been a long overdue but important step towards the recognition of the vital role of the visual arts in Scotland. Edinburgh has a history of artist-run spaces going back to the New 57 Gallery and continuing with initiatives such as The Embassy; these should be encouraged and not penalised for daring to provide challenging, groundbreaking presentations. One strength of the visual arts in Scotland has been the ambition demonstrated by artists organising their own exhibitions and performances, rather than relying on dealers and collectors.

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Many of the Edinburgh festivals' cultural activities charge audiences for entry, so it is ironic that the visual arts festival, which provides precious free access, is now charging its artists. In contrast, the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Arts is supporting the independent sector by offering funding for initiatives outwith its curatorial control.

Any publicly funded festival, as the Edinburgh Art Festival is (by Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government), should have at its heart support for artists as well as audiences.

Instead, artists are expected to pay for the privilege of working. This certainly doesn't open up new sources of income through innovative approaches.

It aims "to present the best, exciting and most intriguing in visual arts practice." How can the organisers hope to succeed in this if the artists do not have the means to provide their services?

• Rowena Comrie is vice-president of the Scottish Artists Union

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