Celebrating the start of August with Festivals Edinburgh

Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to take on the role?

I’ve worked in Scotland’s culture and heritage sectors for over 20 years, frequently in roles which support, connect, and foster collaboration across the cultural landscape.

My experience spans roles from funder to fundraiser, including leading a major capital redevelopment project for an arts venue in Edinburgh.

My first real engagement with festivals, apart from a stint working at a venue bar at the Fringe when a student, came through a strategic role with Scotland + Venice at the Venice Biennale.

Most recently, I was Director of Culture Counts, an advocacy organisation that represents major cultural institutions and sector bodies.

In that role, I led the campaign, alongside partners like Festivals Edinburgh, that secured the additional £100 million in Scottish Government investment for culture.

I’ve always loved Edinburgh’s festivals, so when the Director role of Festivals Edinburgh came up, it felt like a natural next step. What drew me most was the collaborative nature of the role.

Working across festivals and partners toward a shared vision very much aligns with my values and experience.

Having long admired the teams and leadership behind the festivals, I’m excited to help amplify their collective voice and support their continued success.

The Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. © VisitScotland/Kenny Lam

What role do you believe Edinburgh’s festivals play in promoting Scotland on the global world stage and in Scotland’s own cultural, social, and economic life?

Edinburgh’s festivals are Scotland’s world-leading cultural brands. Collectively, they have an economic impact of £407million and attract audiences of nearly four million, putting them on a par with the FIFA World Cup and second only to the Olympic Games.

As such, our festivals sit as signature events within Scotland’s national events strategy.

They offer an unrivalled international platform and springboard for Scottish artists and companies, represent a major attraction, and influence for those choosing to live, work, visit, and invest in Scotland.

The Edinburgh Festivals also make a major contribution to the quality of life of the people of the city region and of Scotland as a whole.

They invest in the growth and development of individuals and communities, through the rich, diverse, and highly accessible nature of the work they present.

Through their active commitment to participation, they extend the impacts of their programmes with important education and community initiatives.

Our festivals represent great national moments of celebration and cohesion, where a strong, confident Scotland proudly and generously welcomes the world to relish and to contribute to its creative force.

The force of the festivals also extends beyond creativity to other essential territories for Scotland.

They lead their own sector and fuel collaboration across many others; from collaborative working to international marketing, from innovation in new technology to environmental good practice, from new approaches in funding to cultural diplomacy programmes and soft power.

All in all, the festivals are cultural showcases, economic powerhouses, forums for international debate, drivers of ambition, and creators of cohesion.

They represent Scotland at its most confident, its most open, and its most creative. They are distinctively Scottish and profoundly international. They help define the country’s cultural identity on the global stage as a creative, contemporary, outward-looking nation.

Edinburgh International Science Festival. © Edinburgh Science/Chris Scott

With the Festival Season now with us, what do you have planned for the next month?

This will be my first August in this new role and I am really excited for it.

Whilst I would love to spend my time fully emersed in all the shows, events, and exhibitions that the six festivals put on in August, my time is mainly mapped out in making the most of the opportunity that the festivals offer as a platform and showcase for Scotland’s cultural activity.

Most visitors and performers are not generally aware of just how many national and international delegates and officials come to Edinburgh to not only to experience the brilliant creativity on show, but also to learn how the city and Scotland puts on this awe-inspiring event.

We host lots of visits, meetings, provide tours, and networking events throughout the month and there is increasing demand for this year-round.

A large amount of my time will be spent working on Momentum, the international delegate programme that Festivals Edinburgh delivers with Creative Scotland and the British Council.

Find out more about Momentum on edinburghfestivalcity.com.

Hosted throughout August, this year we have 27 delegates who are either creative practitioners or cultural managers, from six country delegations.

The programme aims, and has had great success in, building international relationships and cultivating mutual opportunities between Scotland and other countries.

It frequently leads to artistic exchange, touring opportunities, and collaboration.

As this is my first year in this role, I do want to see as much as I can across the six festivals, as each one is very different and have fantastic programmes this year.

I always enjoy a combination of booking shows and events in advance that I am excited to see or that have been recommended as well as more pot luck approach, trying things out that are happening nearby, when I have a spare moment.

That way, you can find some real gems and exciting moments. I am also especially keen to get out and see some of the events that happen across all the far-flung corners of the city.

It is always fun to go off the beaten track and discover new venues alongside different audiences.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. © VisitScotland/Kenny Lam