Next month the world will descend on Edinburgh and its summer festivals. The international nature of the event will be even more focused this year as the British Council mounts its bi-annual showcase inviting hundreds of overseas promoters to pick their way through a selected band of fringe performances. International touring over the past ten years has increased dramatically. Prompted by globalisation and technological innovations, initiatives such as those Gary Hills describes (p5) have put the Holy Grail of international touring within the grasp of every arts organisation in the country. And this is indubitably ?a good thing? as the arts does its bit for the UK?s balance of payments, and artists and audiences benefit from an increased awareness and understanding of international cultures (an awareness that can help reduce the ignorance and tensions that contribute to the absolutism of terrorists). Most of all, a window is thrown open on a multicultural, multifaceted contemporary Britain with a rich cultural heritage and a diverse contemporary spirit, valuing Shakespeare alongside The Streets.
With the Olympics coming, the eyes of the world will be focused on Britain and the artistic community must unite to ensure the vision presented is accurate as well as uplifting, celebratory and sportsmanlike. The Games provide an opportunity to continue the re-evaluation of our international profile ? to show a Britain of the 21st century, in tune with its future as much as its past. The impact of using ?Britain?s maritime heritage? (p1) as a theme for achieving that remains to be seen. Interestingly, the Trafalgar Square party to celebrate the announcement of the bid was led by someone who used to be in the Spice Girls, someone who used to be in M People and someone who used to be in S Club 7. When vision and dynamism are required, let?s hope we can do a bit better than that over the next seven years.
Liz Hill and Brian Whitehead, Co-editors