Scotland

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has revealed a new sponsorship deal with JetBlue.

The deal involves JetBlue supporting the Fringe Society’s Keep It Fringe US fund. Launched in April, the scheme aims to raise $350,000 to support 50 US-based artists to perform at the festival in 2025.

The partnership follows a new route launched by the American airline to the Scottish Capital. 

Shona McCarthy, Fringe Society Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with JetBlue, whose value offering for transatlantic travellers will hopefully make it easier and more affordable for US artists and performing arts pioneers to visit Edinburgh."

National Galleries of Scotland (NSG) has put out a statement online saying will continue its relationship with sponsor Baillie Gifford.

Acknowledging it was "a complex issue," the NSG statement said “we are confident that the funding we receive from Baillie Gifford meets our strong ethical standards”.

The statement continued: “As a cultural organisation the National Galleries of Scotland offers a space for artists to share experiences and perspectives with others, encouraging discussion and understanding of the world we live in.

“This is one of the main ways we can positively impact society, but it needs to be funded. We deliver a world-class programme of exhibitions, events, engagement and outreach which just wouldn’t be possible without support from partners like Baillie Gifford.”

Baillie Gifford, a Scottish investment management company, has been criticised for its links to the fossil fuel industry and to Israel's war in Gaza.

Recents protests againt Baillie Gifford by climate activists - Fossil Free Books - led to the abrupt cancellation of partnerships with multiple book festivals including Hay, Cheltenham Literature Festival and Edinburget International Book Festival. 

Last month Scotland's John Swinney accused climate activists of damaging Scotland’s cultural events by demanding organisations to reject sponsorship deals.

The Edinburgh Fringe has also said it would keep Baillie Gifford as a sponsor. 

Emergency funding of £50,000 has been approved to prevent Nairn Community and Arts Centre in the Scottish Highlands from falling into insolvency.

The "one-off" grant will support increased salary costs due to paying the real living wage, higher utility costs, and maintenance within the ageing premises and follows the termination of previous third-party funding.

Issued by the Highland Council through the Nairn Common Good Fund, the grant is subject to conditions, including providing financial statements that meet the council’s satisfaction and providing evidence that the funding is needed to ensure the continuance of essential service provision.

The release of funds also requires the centre’s board to commission a feasibility study, completed by the end of the year, to investigate a new sustainable management model for the centre.

During a special Nairnshire area committee meeting, the majority of representatives from the community councils, Nairn BID, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Nairn Access Panel, and Queenspark Residents' Group were supportive of the funding intervention, though many questioned whether it was appropriate to use the Common Good Fund rather than council funding.

Councillor Barbara Jarvie said: “We need to remember if we go ahead with this, it is an emergency investment for the community centre that the vast majority realise is a huge asset for Nairn.

“For the doors to close would have a large impact on the entire community.”

Concerns were also raised by Councillor Paul Oldham that the centre's leadership had been aware of the problems for some time.

Councillor Michael Green added: “I think It is important this is not just a paper exercise. They need to embrace changes in real time."

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has been warned not to leave decisions over allocating culture funding until December, as planned, because of the knock-on effect this will have on the nation's arts funding body, Creative Scotland.

Creative Scotland is due to determine which organisations it will invest in for its next three-year funding cycle in October. But Holyrood has said it will not issue cultural budgets until December. 

Last year Holyrood committed an additional £100 million in new funding for the cultural sector, which Swinney repledged again last week, however no details on how it will be distributed have been released.  

Speaking to The Scotsman, arts leaders describe the funding environment as “extremely precarious,” leading to potentially “devastating” decisions due in October unless the additional funding is “brought forward at both the levels and pace that are needed”.

The Scottish government will not support calls for a public inquiry into two fires that caused extensive damage to Glasgow School of Art (GSA) because the required resources would be “extensive” and “difficult to justify”.

The Grade A-listed Charles Rennie Mackintosh building was extensively damaged in a blaze on 23 May 2014. Following a £35m restoration project that was close to completion, the school suffered a second, even more destructive fire four years later on 18 June 2018. 

A report by fire investigators in 2022 said the cause of the second fire was undetermined. The Scottish parliament’s Culture Committee had recommended a public inquiry with judicial powers to examine the risks posed by fire in historic buildings.

Addressing the committee last week, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said a review had been considered but the government did not support the recommendation in part because most Grade A-listed buildings - including GSA - are privately owned.

Robertson said neither the Scottish government nor Historic Environment Scotland had the "necessary frameworks or regulations currently in place to implement such a comprehensive review".

In a letter to MSPs, Robertson said that the "resources required, not just financially but in terms of expertise and personnel, would be extensive".

"Given the current financial landscape, it is difficult to identify a way that this could be funded, or justified, given the protections already given to historic buildings in fire safety and construction legislation, and the progress already made since the 2018 fire."

First Minister John Swinney's decision to axe Scotland's Minister for Culture is causing concern in Edinburgh's festival sector.

The responsibilities of the axed ministerial position have been folded into Angus Robertson’s brief as the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.

Speaking to Scotland's The Herald newspaper, Francesca Hegyi, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh International Festival, said: “We note that Constitution, External Affairs and Culture now sits as the only portfolio within the Scottish Government where a Cabinet Secretary has no direct ministerial support.

“A commitment to work collaboratively and a focus on driving economic growth is essential if Scotland is to thrive and so we look forward to understanding how the Scottish Government plans to address the urgent issues faced by the festivals and the broader arts and culture sector."

Robertson, who is MSP for Edinburgh Central, states in the most recent register of interests – which dates from before the reshuffle – that he has recused himself "on decisions of support for the Edinburgh Festivals" for conflict of interest reasons.

The register goes on to state that all the issues he has recused himself from will be dealt with by... the Minister for Culture.

One of the best-known Edinburgh Fringe venues has been put up for sale.

The Herald reports that Oesselmann Estate Limited, owners of Summerhall Arts Centre, has announced its intention to sell the building.

Estate agents CuthbertWhite say prospective owners have several "refurbishment options," including residential, offices, or student housing.

Robert McDowell, Director of Summerhall Management Ltd, which has been running the building since 2011, said: “I am so proud to say that I have been part of building a space that adheres to the original spirit of the festival and has provided a space for artists, creators and makers to play, build and grow over the years.

“My hope is that with new owners buying the building, Summerhall will be strengthened for the future - and continue its miraculously extraordinary activities, new investment and vigour for the next decade and beyond.”
 

An Edinburgh-based writing showcase and networking event says it is closing for the foreseeable future after missing out on Creative Scotland project funding.

Page2Stage had previously received Creative Scotland Open Fund grants of almost £7,500 and £19,000 in 2022 and 2023.

Its funding bid for 2024 has been rejected twice, meaning it cannot apply again, as per Creative Scotland’s funding guidelines.

The funder says it is currently only able to support 30% of Open Fund applications, despite 75% being recommended for funding. 

“Difficult decisions are being made on a daily basis,” Creative Scotland said in a statement, adding that “demand is increasing while the funding available to us is not”.

Page2Stage Producer Michelle McKay told The Stage that despite the closure, the event is regrouping and looking at what other funding is available: “We are not giving up because we absolutely believe in what we do,” McKay said.

The Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film & Television (The SI) has been announced as the new name for Scotland's MGA Academy of Performing Arts.

The renaming was instigated by the school's new owners, Irish production house Silver Rock Studios. Funding for the school has been secured from West Lothian Council, Creative Scotland, and the Scottish Government.

The institute, Scotland's only school accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT), is now based in a campus in Livingston and will be open to international students for the first time.

President and CEO of The SI, Andy Egan, said: “It is an honour to introduce The Scottish Institute and open our brand new campus to our wonderful students, staff and visitors.

"The institute is built on the academy’s reputation and our roots in Edinburgh. This pivotal expansion further marks our commitment to fostering an environment where creativity, learning and profession development take centre stage."

He added: "As we invite our students to our new, state-of-the-art Livingston campus we aspire to nurture a hub that champions creativity, entrepreneurship and learning to inspire the next generation of talent.”