Edinburgh festivals backed by £5.7m funding boost

The Scottish Government’s Expanded Festivals Fund has awarded £5.7 million to 55 festivals nationwide, including key events in Edinburgh, to bolster Scotland’s arts and culture sector. Managed by Creative Scotland, the funding supports artistic innovation, audience engagement, and international partnerships, with programming secured through 2028. Festivals Edinburgh will receive an extra £200,000 for international marketing efforts in 2026-27, while regions like Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow, and Orkney will benefit from grants aimed at fostering collaborations and new productions. The fund, launched in 2025, aligns with the Scottish Government’s goal of increasing annual culture funding by £100 million by 2028-29. Creative Scotland’s director of arts and engagement, Paul Burns, highlighted the fund’s role in providing stability and supporting diverse initiatives, including sector development and new programming. Màiri McAllan, a Scottish Government representative, emphasized the fund’s impact on artists and communities, noting its contribution to economic and social benefits across Scotland. In Dumfries and Galloway, Arts D&G will use the funding to develop a new production with an international practitioner, enhancing skills and delivering high-quality visual theatre for rural audiences. The full list of recipients is available on Creative Scotland’s website, reflecting the fund’s broad reach across Scotland’s cultural landscape.