This programme supports strategic development activity across Edinburgh’s festivals, taking place over a three-to-five year timeframe. The programme was designed to enable the festivals:
* to diversify their year-round partnerships with the culture sector across the city and Scotland;
* to drive transformation and creative innovation through long-term programming approaches;
* to increase career and skills development capacity for creatives and young people;
* to build new and lasting relationships with less engaged communities.
Investment in the programme has been provided by the Scottish Government and the City of Edinburgh Council with match funding from Edinburgh’s festivals (each partner providing £1m per annum). Creative Scotland will manage and administer the Scottish Government’s contribution to the fund, in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council, and will oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the activity supported.
The aims of the programme were significantly impacted by Covid 19 in 2020-21. 2022 is a significant year in the recovery of Edinburgh’s Festivals from the pandemic, yet negative impacts on financial stability and resilience are still in evidence. In support of the importance of the recovery of the festivals to the economic and cultural wellbeing of both Edinburgh and Scotland, an additional £1.75 million has been made available for Platforms for Creative Excellence by the Scottish Government.
Creative Scotland will manage and administer the Scottish Government’s additional contribution to the Fund in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council and Event Scotland and oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the activity supported.
This programme is only open to applications from Festivals Edinburgh members.
Deadline for applications: 18 July 2018
Decisions announced: September 2018
Start dates for proposals: Proposals receiving funding to begin between October 2018 and March 2019