28/03/2008 06:36:00
A new fund aimed at fostering Scottish talent has been announced by the Scottish Government.
£6 million has been allocated by the Scottish Government to boost native talent at Edinburgh's festivals and allow quality Scottish work to be seen by international audiences. The Edinburgh festivals - including the Edinburgh Fringe and the Edinburgh International Festival - attract visitors from all around the world to central Scotland every year.
The Edinburgh Festival Expo Fund will provide money to Scottish productions premiering at Edinburgh's festivals in a bid to ensure that more native artists will be involved. The fund will also be used to support touring events after their Edinburgh premier, allowing successful work to reach new audience's out with the city.
Festivals Edinburgh, led by Faith Liddle, will take the main role in coordinating and delivering the portfolio of Expo projects.
In a statement on the Scottish Government website, Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said:
"Scotland's diverse and vibrant cultural life is one of our country's defining features. With Edinburgh as the pre-eminent festival capital of the world we have a real platform to showcase the best of Scottish talent to international audiences.
"In a time of true cultural renaissance in Scotland, the Expo Fund signals a positive step forward for our creative sector. This will help maximise the opportunities that Edinburgh's Festivals provide for artists in Scotland and showcase the quality and range of our cultural endeavours to the rest of the world."
With the fund being available to all 12 festivals in Edinburgh, it will be down to the Scottish Arts Council to access and select projects deserving of the Expo Fund cash.