The Scottish Government has announced a £3 million investment to support 14 cultural festivals across the country. Of this, £2.8 million comes from the Festivals Expo Fund, which supports events in Edinburgh and Glasgow, while £200,000 has been allocated to Festivals Edinburgh by Creative Scotland to assist with branding and marketing. The total represents a notable increase from the £1.7 million granted last year, marking the first uplift in funding for over a decade.
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Among the beneficiaries, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will receive £670,000, with £200,000 each going to the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. Culture Secretary Angus Robertson emphasised the international importance of Scotland’s festivals, describing them as a “cultural shopfront” and highlighting their contribution to the economy, creative sector, and global reach of Scottish talent.
Robertson added that the increased funding acknowledges the significant achievements of Expo-backed festivals since the fund’s creation in 2007, from commissioning new works to attracting large audiences. He confirmed that plans are in place to expand the fund’s reach beyond the central belt, aiming to support festivals throughout the entire country via the strategic festivals partnership.
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Dana MacLeod of Creative Scotland welcomed the investment, stating it would enable festivals to commission ambitious ideas and present quality programming both at home and abroad. Lori Anderson, director of Festivals Edinburgh, also praised the decision, noting it ensures continued support for showcasing Scottish creativity on some of the world’s most prominent festival stages.
