The Role of our Festivals has never been more Vital

On Wednesday 20 August, Lori Anderson - Director, Festivals Edinburgh - gave the following opening address of the annual Federation of Scottish Theatre, Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre's Edinburgh Festivals reception.

Thank you, Kenny, and thank you Cabinet Secretary. It’s a real pleasure to be here at this annual reception hosted by the Federation of Scottish Theatre, UK Theatre, and the Society of London Theatre. This evening is always a very warm and welcome moment to come together, reconnect with friends old and new, and celebrate the extraordinary energy of the Edinburgh Festivals.

Every August, Edinburgh transforms into a global stage - a place where creativity, conversation, and connection flourish. And this year is no exception. At this moment there are at least 83 different countries represented on our stages.

This transformation however, doesn’t happen by chance.

It’s the result of decades of vision, collaboration, and dedication - much of it from the people in this room. And it is sustained by something more fragile than it should be: the financial, physical, and political infrastructure that underpins our cultural ecosystem.

After years of disruption - from Brexit to the pandemic, and a decade of underinvestment - the Scottish Government’s commitment of additional funding has been hugely welcomed. It’s a signal of confidence in the culture sector and has allowed many organisations and artists to pause,   take a breath,     and begin to reset and look forward with renewed confidence and ambition.

But the story doesn’t end here.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard many conversations about hope - and whether we can, or should, feel hopeful in a world marked by conflict, climate crisis, economic uncertainty, and social division.

Hope can feel like a luxury in times of crisis.

But I believe it is a necessity. And we must choose to be purposefully hopeful - not out of naivety, but out of conviction.

Hope builds resilience.       

The Edinburgh Festivals themselves were born out of hope - a peace project in 1947, designed to unite people through culture after the devastation of the Second World War. That founding spirit still resonates today, reminding us that hope is not passive. It is active. It is deliberate.

Hope fuels creativity.      

Artists create, because they have something to say. Every performance, every story, every act of expression is rooted in the belief that change is possible.

And hope is a form of resistance.      

In fractured times, artists must be free to speak. Audiences choosing to gather, to listen, to imagine - that is a radical act. It is a refusal to be silenced or divided. It is a commitment to empathy, dialogue, and progress.

So, while hope may feel out of reach for many, it is precisely in these moments that it becomes most powerful. The Edinburgh Festivals - with their bold ideas, brave voices, and global reach - are a celebration of possibility. They are spaces for challenge and debate, for amplifying marginalised perspectives, and for inspiring change.

The role of the festivals has never been more vital.

As we look ahead to 2027, and the 80th anniversary of Edinburgh’s birth as a festival city, their legacy invites us not only to celebrate, but to act - to safeguard them against the risk of complacency and ensure they continue to thrive for generations to come.

• Firstly, we must have a financially sustainable culture sector. Financial pressures remain a real concern. If we want to protect its stability, diversity, and ambition, we need

• long-term, multi-agency, strategic funding models that support artists, venues, and organisations at every level.
• Secondly, we need the conditions and infrastructure for a thriving culture sector. That means accessible, affordable spaces to create and perform. It means digital connectivity, housing, and transport that work for artists and audiences alike. And here in Edinburgh it means recognising that festivals don’t just happen in August - they occur and are built year-round through education, community engagement, and creative development.
• Thirdly, we must recognise and value our culture sector, theatre and festivals as unique national assets. These are not just cultural events - they are engines of diplomacy, tourism, innovation, and civic pride. They showcase Scotland to the world. And they deserve to be supported - not just in words, but in policy, in planning, and in investment.

Through this support we can nurture hope. Because it lives in every performance, every conversation, and every moment of connection here in Edinburgh and in every theatre in the land. It is a reminder that storytelling can build bridges, that creativity can cut through division, and shape society, not just reflect it.

So, let us not just celebrate our cultural sector, let’s champion it -  boldly, and unapologetically. Because backing the arts means investing in our nation’s future.

Thank you all for being here. And thank you for all that you do.