Fringe issues accommodation warning to performers

A performer on the streets of Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival
11 Jan 2023

Organisers of the Edinburgh Fringe urge prospective performers to 'scope out' accommodation early amid concerns around availability and cost.

Fringe performers ‘likely to return’ to festival

07 Dec 2022

A survey commissioned by the Edinburgh Fringe Society has found 70% of performers at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe are likely to bring a show to the festival again in the future. 

The finding forms part of an evaluation survey into this year’s edition, which received more than 10,000 responses including audiences and performers. For performers, the biggest barrier to future participation appears to be accommodation, with 87% of artists agreeing that affordability of accommodation and living costs will be a barrier to future participation in the Fringe.

Concerns were raised around soaring accomodation costs at the time of this year’s festival, with a coalition of Edinburgh's producing venues calling the issue a threat to the festival’s future.

Despite the concerns, 81% of all survey respondents -  including artists, audience members, arts industry professionals, residents and other participants - said they were likely to come to next year’s festival.

Two thirds of visitors would like to see discounted tickets available at next year’s edition, with 91% agreeing a discount should be available for Edinburgh residents.

The festival says the call for discounted tickets is a result of the cost of living crisis, which it says is “likely to extend into 2023”.

Over 2.2million tickets were issued by the end of this year’s edition, with artists from 63 countries performing more than 3,400 shows across the Scottish capital.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Chief Executive Shona McCarthy said that in a tumultuous year, “it feels miraculous the Fringe happened at all”.

“Improvements can always be made, and the insights and data gained from our recent listening exercise are already being taken forward”, she added.

“We recognise that there are ongoing challenges, and our team are working hard behind the scenes to continue to advocate for our artists, and to support audiences as they plan for Fringe 2023.”

Mayor of London launches theatre campaign

06 Dec 2022

Tickets for popular theatre shows are to be sold at discounted rates as part of efforts by the Mayor of London to boost tourism in the capital.

As part of the mayor's Let's Do London campaign, a "12 Shows of Christmas" promotion will see tickets for London West End shows are to be sold at a discount by Transport for London (TfL) to try to attract people into the capital on the Tube.

For 12 consecutive days, 100 tickets will be sold for £30, a 35-45% discount on the usual price.

It is hoped the campaign will boost sales and tourism after the industry took a hit from the pandemic.

Coventry reports City of Culture boost

02 Dec 2022

Coventry’s visitor economy recorded a large increase in its economic value in 2021, while the city was UK City of Culture, new research indicates.

Research commissioned by destination management organisation Destination Coventry calculated the economic impact of tourism in the city using a model that takes into account attractions footfall, car park usage, festival and event statistics, and hotel market data.

It found Coventry’s visitor economy increased to a value of £495m in 2021, an increase of £265m compared with 2020.

The city attracted 8.2 million visitors during 2021, a 103% increase on 2020 levels. Wider figures for the West Midlands Combined Authority region found a 72% year-on-year increase in visitors for the area.

“It is easy to forget that at the start of 2021 we were still in Covid-19 restrictions, as a matter of fact the first UK City of Culture event was held when restrictions were still in place,” Destination Coventry Managing Director Paul Jones said.

“So, to have recovered to this extent is excellent and the figures featured in this latest economic impact report are certainly something the tourism sector in Coventry should be proud of.”

Corin Crane, Chief Executive of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “Events such as City of Culture have set the foundations for success here in Coventry and now it’s up to us to capitalise and keep that momentum going.”

North East to pilot £2.25m tourism project

28 Nov 2022

The North East has been chosen as the location for a government pilot programme aimed at developing tourism.

NewcastleGateshead Initiative will lead the pilot in partnership with Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham, working across seven local authority areas.

The Destination Development Partnership (DDP) will receive £2.25m to “help successfully develop and market the region as a must-visit destination while attracting further private investment and driving growth”.

This is expected to include the creation of cultural events.

The DDP pilot follows an independent review into Destination Management Organisations published earlier this year, in which the government committed to streamlining tourism boards. 

If the pilot is successful, the government expects to roll the partnership model out to other regions across England.

“We are looking at what more we can do to streamline the way the region’s tourism bodies work together, improve the region’s offer and the way it markets itself,” Tourism Minister Stuart Andrew said.

With £2.25 million in funding, we hope the North East can be a pioneer for other areas in unlocking its potential and putting its best foot forward.
 

Campaigners criticise Airbnb heritage donation

24 Oct 2022

Airbnb has come in for criticism after gifting £1.25m to charity English Heritage.

The rental giant says the donation is part of a broader project designed to “enhance the cultural heritage” promoted on its platform.

Airbnb has seen an increase in listings in coastal areas across England and Wales after it added a historical homes category to its website in July. Bookings for historical homes on its platform have now doubled since 2019.

Housing campaigners say this is worsening the housing crisis in the UK, with landlords in holiday locations favouring tourists over tenants.

Will McMahon, Director of charity Action on Empty Homes, called the donation “a sort of cultural greenwashing for what has become an investment platform taking homes out of residential use and worsening our housing crisis”.

“Airbnb clearly has a strategic understanding of their own vulnerabilities and in my view are making corporate donations to offset the poor publicity they are now receiving countrywide due to short lets impacting on long-standing local communities in city, coast and countryside alike,” he added.

English Heritage Chief Executive Kate Mavor said the charity is very grateful for the donation: “English Heritage is an independent charity and support like Airbnb’s is vital to protect the great stone circles and castles, abbeys and historic houses in our care”.

Liverpool chosen to host Eurovision

10 Oct 2022

Liverpool will host next year's Eurovision Song Contest, it has been confirmed.

The DCMS decision was announced during the BBC's One Show [7 October], with Liverpool beating competition from bookmakers' favourite Glasgow, and nearly 20 other cities in the UK, to host the event.

Ukraine's entrant Kalush Orchestra won May's contest, but the country will not be able to stage the event due to the Russian invasion.

Instead, the UK will host as its entry from Sam Ryder was runner up in this year's competition.

Claire McColgan, director of Culture Liverpool, which will organise the event said the city would reflect "what Ukraine and its people deserve".

"This is a very different Eurovision, which is why were we're so excited and keen to do it... we can do the best show for Ukraine because that's who this is for," she said.

She added organisers would use "intel and insight" from Liverpool's twin city Odessa to celebrate the country's culture during the broadcasts and cultural programmes.

Edinburgh Fringe seeks feedback to drive improvements

30 Sep 2022

Organisers of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival have launched a major feedback exercise as part of attempts to address issues with the annual event.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is seeking input from artists, audiences, venues, producers, workers, community groups, arts industry delegates, media and those with access needs in order to make improvements for 2023.

Over the next two weeks the festival will be inviting views on a range of topics, from the recent Fringe experience to accommodation costs, barriers to participation, and the work of the Fringe Society. 

Responses to the collection of surveys will provide data the festival says will help it bring together the right people and partnerships to work towards solutions. 

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “This year’s festival was the first step on the road to recovery and we know the biggest challenge is the next three years. 

"It’s important that we gather evidence and case studies from our Fringe participants so that we can ensure the Society is armed with the facts and best equipped to make the case for where improvements can be made in advance of Fringe 2023. 

"We encourage everyone to take time to complete the survey specific to them and to provide as much information as they can.”

Attractions warned of ‘exceptionally tough’ 2023 

26 Sep 2022

The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions warns that amid pressures on household spending, providing value for money to visitors is more essential than ever.

Edinburgh Fringe returns: triumphant or troubled?

Outside the Royal Academy and National Gallery during Fringe
18 Aug 2022

The first full version of the festival following Covid restrictions is in full swing, but concerns about its direction of travel persist.

Government commits £4m to overhaul local tourism boards

The Royal Pavilion Brighton
02 Aug 2022

Responding to an independent review into England’s local tourism bodies, DCMS commits to pilot project to test new ways of operating.

Visitor attractions face 'significant cost-of-living barrier'

Martin Creed 'Work No 850' at Tate Britain
12 Jul 2022

Predicition of higher admissions levels for visitor attractions this summer compared with last year, but cost of living emerges as a concern for potential audiences.

Edinburgh Fringe producers get £1.3m resilience funding

26 May 2022

Edinburgh Festival Fringe producers have received financial support to help them recover and remain resilient following the Covid-19 pandemic. 

A total of 13 Edinburgh Festival Fringe producers have been awarded a share of £1.275m from the Fringe 2022 Resilience Fund, financed by the Scottish Government and distributed by Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

Venues in receipt of the money are Assembly, BlundaBus, Gilded Balloon, Greenside, Just The Tonic, Laughing Horse, Monkey Barrell Comedy, Pleasance, Scottish Comedy Festival, Summerhall, theSpaceUK, Underbelly and ZOO.

A further £305k has been allocated to support the ongoing resilience of the Fringe Society, which includes £55k to support the delivery of street events during August.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “It’s fair to say that the last few years have been the most challenging in our festival’s history. 

"Now, as we prepare to enter our 75th anniversary year, creatives across the Fringe landscape are working hard to ensure that this incredible festival not only survives, but continues to work hard to be the best version of itself.

“This support from Scottish Government is absolutely vital in helping us to achieve that goal: allowing producers and creatives across the landscape to not only recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic, but to offer enhanced support to artists, workers and volunteers; to continue to programme creative and innovative work; to improve accessibility; to tackle affordability and to ensure that this festival remains true to its founding principles of openness and inclusivity.”

Heritage sector ‘confident about future'

Barnard Castle in County Durham
09 May 2022

Survey finds positivity among organisations across Britain and confidence to weather possible future waves of Covid-19.

The place of theatre in the public realm

29 Mar 2022

A new report argues that urban planners need to do more to engage with theatre or risk losing these vital assets. Alice Morby has the details.  

Cultural tourism yet to recover from Covid

inside of Natural History Museum
14 Mar 2022

There is optimism pre-pandemic interest will return, as sites retain high membership rates in a “really good start” to the new year.

Cultural tourism faces 'double jeopardy' in 2022

landscape image of Knebworth House
01 Mar 2022

MPs are warned that, for some attractions, "this year might be more financially challenging than the last two".

Tate Modern was UK's most visited museum last year

21 Sep 2021

Data from the last quarter of 2020 has revealed Tate Modern to be the most visited museum in England last year.

The museum attracted 160,814 visits from October to December - whilst coronavirus restrictions were still in place - pushing the The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum into second and third place respectively.

Altogether, it welcomed 1.43 million people in 2020 despite the pandemic closing institutions for several months.

National Museums Liverpool was the only museum outside London to feature in the top 10, placing seventh.

Data collated by DCMS shows 1.27 million people visited museums across the country in the last three months of the year, a 84.7% decrease compared to figures from 2019.

Scottish Government pushes for EU visa-free touring

31 Aug 2021

Scottish Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has urged the UK Government to negotiate visa-free travel for the creative industry by the end of the year.

In a letter addressed to Oliver Dowden, Robertson calls for cooperation between the two Governments to “minimise barriers to recovery”.

He adds that touring visas and work permits are creating “insurmountable obstacles” for artists.

“Ultimately this could jeopardise the ability of some to continue working in the sector altogether”.

The letter follows a UK Government announcement that 19 EU countries have agreed to short term visa-free tours, an update condemned by music industry leaders as “nothing new”.

South Bank arts venues' economic impact down £330m, report claims

12 Jul 2021

Five major UK arts institutions are appealing for public and private investment after losing half their income due to Covid-19.

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