£2million Expo Fund to boost Scotland's world-class festivals
9 March 2018
The Scottish Government has announced that it will invest £2 million in 2018-19 in support of Scotland’s international Festivals. The funding, part of the Festivals Expo Fund, promotes the development of Scottish artists and creative expression across the country and will contribute to raising the profile of Scotland’s world-class festivals.
The Festivals’ Expo Fund assessment process and funding is administered by Creative Scotland, with input from Event Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Festivals Edinburgh, British Council and City of Edinburgh Council.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, said:
Over the past 10 years, our Expo Fund has enabled us to invest in the development of both emerging and established artists in Scotland, supporting the creation of new partnerships and collaborations, and enabling artists to tour locally and internationally.
Through this funding, projects that encourage collaborations between Scotland’s artists and cultural organisations are supported to create new work of local, national and international relevance.
Julia Amour, Director Festivals Edinburgh, said:
Ten years after the creation of this innovative festivals fund, we’re delighted that the Government continues to support Scottish creative careers through our unique international platforms, networks and audiences– and our forthcoming study of the first ten years of Expo will reveal the extent of its impact on the Scottish cultural sector.
Lorna Duguid, Multi-artform Manager, Creative Scotland, said:
The continued support from the Scottish Government Expo Fund is a significant endorsement of the vital contribution festivals make in ensuring Scotland continues to be a distinctive creative nation connected to the world. This funding will enable the creation and presentation of ambitious and innovative work from Scotland’s outstanding talent to audiences at home and abroad.
Details of 2018-19 Expo allocations are included in the downloadable press release below. Further details of individual projects which will benefit from the funding will be announced in due course by festival organisers.