Chamber
Plenary, 18 Jun 2009
18 Jun 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Scotland's Festivals
I was tempted to restrict my speech to the observation that festivals are generally good things, especially those that are held close to my home or those to which transport has been provided. The only aspect of the minister's role that I envy is that he has a chauffeur on hand to whisk him home from the many festivals and events that he must attend. We lesser mortals must abstain, or stagger into the night after one too many, wishing that we had abstained.
Having concluded those brief observations, I am tempted to sit down. However, recognising the Government's difficulty in coming up with subjects to debate that can attract any support and as a born consensualist, I will try to enter into the spirit of things. I think that it was Liz Taylor's seventh or eighth husband who, when asked how he was looking forward to his forthcoming nuptials, remarked:
"I think I know what is expected of me. The problem is how to make it interesting."
This afternoon, I think I know what is expected but I, too, fear that it will be hard to make things interesting—many members might ask what is new in that.
The motion rightly focuses on our capital city, Edinburgh, which hosts 12 annual festivals, from the book festival to the jazz and blues festival, the film festival and our outstanding Edinburgh international festival. Together, those 12 events contribute more than £75 million a year to the Scottish economy. I may have been a bit flippant in my opening remarks, but I do not underestimate the important difference that festivals make not only to our cultural life but to our finances.
The Edinburgh international film festival—now in its 63rd year—is the world's oldest film festival. It has a remit to showcase established talent and promote newcomers to the industry. It is the one event that persuades my old friend Sir Sean Connery to return to these shores. We should all be glad that he is back among us, albeit fleetingly—I understand that he is giving the First Minister an audience later this afternoon.
This year, the film festival will screen 135 features from more than 30 countries. The organisers of that world-class event, which began its 2009 season yesterday, made the right decision to move from August to June, especially when we consider that attendance numbers have increased and now stand at well over 50,000. I am glad that, even in these difficult economic times and despite the challenges that the fringe faced last year and those that the festival might face this year because of the trams project, the Edinburgh festivals are still a world attraction and a considerable financial success.
However, it is not only the capital that showcases the best of our culture. I have long enjoyed festivals throughout the nation, from Shetland's Up-Helly-Aa, to Hawick's common riding; from the booming Pittenweem arts festival in my native Fife to those in places such as Stornoway, Portree, Oban and Fort William, to which I try to make an annual pilgrimage to the Gaelic Mod.
I like the quirky events. The numbers attending StAnza, the festival of poetry in St Andrews to which the minister referred, have doubled since the event was launched a decade ago. I enjoy the folk festivals at places such as Auchtermuchty and Keith, where we can still listen to competing bothy balladeers.
The Muchty festival, I am delighted to say, will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. Another event celebrating its 30-somethingth anniversary is the Aberdeen international youth festival—I remember being there at its inception, which ages me. My colleague Nanette Milne has been a staunch supporter and trustee of that festival over the years.
My annual calendar is punctuated by festivals and events, which, as I get older, become more and more unmissable. The nation's festival year begins in the depths of January with Up-Helly-Aa, which welcomes the return of the sun, and it comes to a close with my own dear St Andrews festival event a few weeks before the Christmas and hogmanay revels. In between, there are of course, as we have heard—and we will hear a lot more about them—a host of other festivals. I am sure that colleagues, with an eye to press releases in their local newspapers, will ensure that no local festival across the land is left unmentioned.
Of course, all those events can be maintained and built on only if the funding is secured. The funding is especially important in this year of homecoming. My local poetry festival could not exist without support from, among others, Fife Council and the Scottish Arts Council. I hope that the minister helps to ensure that the SAC's successor, creative Scotland, continues to play a role in allocating adequate funding to such innovative small festivals.
In that regard, I ask the minister to look again at the financial arrangements for the St Andrew's day week, which faces uncertainty over funding in this year of homecoming. Surely the town that is named after our patron saint—and whose university is the alma mater of our sainted First Minister—cannot be left strapped for funds for its local festival as the year of homecoming reaches its climax on St Andrew's day. Festivals are not only essential to showcase the best of our national and local culture, whether that is music, drama or the arts, or simply a reflection of community life and trade; they are also great places to meet old friends—as Karen Gillon said—to have a craic and to marvel at the diversity of talent that our small nation continues to produce. Yes—I have occasionally recognised a song that is performed at T in the Park. In the spirit of consensus, we on the Tory benches are happy to support the motion.
Having concluded those brief observations, I am tempted to sit down. However, recognising the Government's difficulty in coming up with subjects to debate that can attract any support and as a born consensualist, I will try to enter into the spirit of things. I think that it was Liz Taylor's seventh or eighth husband who, when asked how he was looking forward to his forthcoming nuptials, remarked:
"I think I know what is expected of me. The problem is how to make it interesting."
This afternoon, I think I know what is expected but I, too, fear that it will be hard to make things interesting—many members might ask what is new in that.
The motion rightly focuses on our capital city, Edinburgh, which hosts 12 annual festivals, from the book festival to the jazz and blues festival, the film festival and our outstanding Edinburgh international festival. Together, those 12 events contribute more than £75 million a year to the Scottish economy. I may have been a bit flippant in my opening remarks, but I do not underestimate the important difference that festivals make not only to our cultural life but to our finances.
The Edinburgh international film festival—now in its 63rd year—is the world's oldest film festival. It has a remit to showcase established talent and promote newcomers to the industry. It is the one event that persuades my old friend Sir Sean Connery to return to these shores. We should all be glad that he is back among us, albeit fleetingly—I understand that he is giving the First Minister an audience later this afternoon.
This year, the film festival will screen 135 features from more than 30 countries. The organisers of that world-class event, which began its 2009 season yesterday, made the right decision to move from August to June, especially when we consider that attendance numbers have increased and now stand at well over 50,000. I am glad that, even in these difficult economic times and despite the challenges that the fringe faced last year and those that the festival might face this year because of the trams project, the Edinburgh festivals are still a world attraction and a considerable financial success.
However, it is not only the capital that showcases the best of our culture. I have long enjoyed festivals throughout the nation, from Shetland's Up-Helly-Aa, to Hawick's common riding; from the booming Pittenweem arts festival in my native Fife to those in places such as Stornoway, Portree, Oban and Fort William, to which I try to make an annual pilgrimage to the Gaelic Mod.
I like the quirky events. The numbers attending StAnza, the festival of poetry in St Andrews to which the minister referred, have doubled since the event was launched a decade ago. I enjoy the folk festivals at places such as Auchtermuchty and Keith, where we can still listen to competing bothy balladeers.
The Muchty festival, I am delighted to say, will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. Another event celebrating its 30-somethingth anniversary is the Aberdeen international youth festival—I remember being there at its inception, which ages me. My colleague Nanette Milne has been a staunch supporter and trustee of that festival over the years.
My annual calendar is punctuated by festivals and events, which, as I get older, become more and more unmissable. The nation's festival year begins in the depths of January with Up-Helly-Aa, which welcomes the return of the sun, and it comes to a close with my own dear St Andrews festival event a few weeks before the Christmas and hogmanay revels. In between, there are of course, as we have heard—and we will hear a lot more about them—a host of other festivals. I am sure that colleagues, with an eye to press releases in their local newspapers, will ensure that no local festival across the land is left unmentioned.
Of course, all those events can be maintained and built on only if the funding is secured. The funding is especially important in this year of homecoming. My local poetry festival could not exist without support from, among others, Fife Council and the Scottish Arts Council. I hope that the minister helps to ensure that the SAC's successor, creative Scotland, continues to play a role in allocating adequate funding to such innovative small festivals.
In that regard, I ask the minister to look again at the financial arrangements for the St Andrew's day week, which faces uncertainty over funding in this year of homecoming. Surely the town that is named after our patron saint—and whose university is the alma mater of our sainted First Minister—cannot be left strapped for funds for its local festival as the year of homecoming reaches its climax on St Andrew's day. Festivals are not only essential to showcase the best of our national and local culture, whether that is music, drama or the arts, or simply a reflection of community life and trade; they are also great places to meet old friends—as Karen Gillon said—to have a craic and to marvel at the diversity of talent that our small nation continues to produce. Yes—I have occasionally recognised a song that is performed at T in the Park. In the spirit of consensus, we on the Tory benches are happy to support the motion.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-4421, in the name of Michael Russell, on the energy, commitment and creativity of Scotland's festivals an...
The Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution (Michael Russell):
SNP
I apologise for arriving in the chamber just seconds too late to be able to follow on—in cricketing parlance.I am pleased to speak about the success of the E...
David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab):
Lab
I am astonished to learn of Mr Russell's debut. Will he tell us what he contributed? What song did he sing?
Michael Russell:
SNP
Of course, I am a modest person and do not wish to talk too much about my own performances—Interruption. There is a strange sound of laughter to my right, fr...
David Whitton:
Lab
That is because you described yourself as modest.
Michael Russell:
SNP
Well, it is a definition that I recognise, even if no one else does. I appeared in a work called "The Flight of the Arctic Tern", by a composer called Mark S...
Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I am grateful that the minister reminded us of how many people attended the launch of Sir Sean's book. Can he tell us how many copies of the book Sir Sean sold?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Mr Russell, I think we may now be straying from the point of the debate.
Michael Russell:
SNP
Well, that is a great pity. I will simply say that the book was, as befits a Scot of international celebration and reputation, a wonderful seller.The fact th...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
The vision of Mike Russell and modesty is not one that easily comes to mind, but I look forward to buying tickets to his forthcoming show. It will be an inte...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I thought the member was going to say "Mike Russell".
Karen Gillon:
Lab
Well, there is always a chance.Seriously though, T in the Park compares favourably with any festival in the world. It should be celebrated. Last year, virtua...
Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I was tempted to restrict my speech to the observation that festivals are generally good things, especially those that are held close to my home or those to ...
Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD):
LD
Inevitably, the motion concentrates on the iconic Edinburgh festivals, and probably rightly so, as they are known throughout the world in a way that others a...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
What does it cost to enter these events?
Iain Smith:
LD
I do not have the price list in front of me. What is great about community festivals is that entry to many of the events is free, so that people can particip...
Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP):
SNP
Aside from the Edinburgh festival, I am sure that there will be healthy competition among us all today to get in the most references to the local festivals i...
Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab):
Lab
The major festivals such as the Edinburgh international festival, T in the Park, Celtic Connections, the St Magnus festival and so on are all hugely importan...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Our opportunity to debate festivals and their success in Scotland is a valuable contribution as we look towards the future, celebrating place and aspects of ...
Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
Edinburgh without festivals is simply unimaginable. Our capital city is the world's foremost festival city; it provides a beautiful historic backdrop for an ...
Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
I would like to join my colleagues in celebrating Scotland's festival cultures. I am slightly older than the Edinburgh festival and I can still remember its ...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I thank the minister for his optimistic contribution, if only for a highly unusual show of modesty—that leaves only 999 things to do before I die. He was abs...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I draw the member's attention to the fact that although this year's fringe tickets went on general sale only on Monday, the fringe has sold £500,000 worth of...
Margaret Smith:
LD
I am as optimistic as the minister about this year's festivals, particularly the fringe, which is often a victim of its own success. We will see wonderful pe...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I am sure that ticket sales are up because the minister is performing in the festival.I am pleased to be winding up for the Scottish Conservatives in this sh...
David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab):
Lab
Like the other members who have spoken, I am delighted to participate in the debate and take the opportunity to talk about a couple of festivals that take pl...
Michael Russell:
SNP
It has been a good-natured and informative debate, although it has included some odd moments, to which I will refer, in passing, as I sum up. Before I do so,...
Karen Gillon:
Lab
Will the minister undertake to meet some of the industry organisers in Scotland to look at how we can make the lighting, staging and public address systems t...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I would be happy to do so. I note the concerns that various social enterprise organisations have expressed on the matter—procurement is an issue. Last night ...
George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab):
Lab
Has the minister been contacted by Mr Ian McFarlane asking why no Burns productions are included in the Edinburgh international festival? If so, what reply d...