Edinburgh Fringe funding has been announced by the UK government to identify new talent and promote them nationally and internationally. The grant comes on the eve of this year’s festival that will run until 27 August.
The funding will be used to:
- Invest in technology and digital resources for artists, including a streamlined accreditation and ticket request system.
- Develop the Edinburgh Fringe website, and help create an Arts Industry app to provide centralised scheduling and ticketing information for artists and visitors.
- Market and promote acts performing at the Fringe across the UK, particularly in areas currently underrepresented at the festival and create more networking opportunities for UK acts.
- Help artists extend the lifespan of Fringe productions by recruiting arts industry brokers to help take shows across the UK and overseas.
- Support the opening of the ‘Fringe Home’ – a year-round space for arts businesses and events in Edinburgh.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright said, “The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an annual showcase of creativity and a global marketplace for emerging talent. It has launched the careers of some of the UK’s finest writers and performers and we want to ensure it continues to go from strength to strength, helping to break new acts here and across the globe.”
The announcement comes ahead of the Edinburgh International Culture Summit, where the world’s Culture Ministers will gather in the Scottish Parliament to debate the importance of culture, alongside a range of international speakers.