Chamber
Plenary, 18 Jun 2009
18 Jun 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Scotland's Festivals
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 Edinburgh festivals and Scotland's other festivals, their contribution to the Scottish economy, their role in the cultural and wider life of the nation and the positive message that they promote about Scotland's cultural confidence and ambition.
We should remind ourselves of what that success looks like. Edinburgh is the pre-eminent festival capital of the world. Our festivals radiate creative excellence and artistic quality, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to Scotland every year and in so doing generates at least £185 million for the Scottish economy.
Although the focus of the debate will be Edinburgh, I take the opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful work that is under way throughout the nation on a diverse array of festivals and events, which do so much for our economy, our sense of who we are and our national creative spirit and reputation. They are also thoroughly enjoyable—that is an important part of what I will talk about.
It would be invidious to pluck any out of the air, but I will mention a couple of very different festivals. The St Magnus festival in Orkney is a wonderful celebration of a composer and his work; and T in the Park is a celebration of artistic excellence and many composers, if we can call them that, which attracts many thousands of people. In every part of Scotland, we could touch on one festival or event or another that celebrates the things that we need to celebrate. However, it is Edinburgh, of course, that is our festival city—but not just ours, because its position is of global significance. Scotland is a festivals nation and we have the world capital of festivals as our capital.
There is so much to talk about that I will not be able to capture the full festivals picture. I have already mentioned the St Magnus festival, Orkney's midsummer arts celebration, at which the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will perform this year. We also have festivals that are not music based, such as the Wigtown book festival, which is held annually in what is Scotland's national book town. This autumn, as part of Scotland's homecoming 2009 celebrations, Wigtown will host a unique festival within a festival, celebrating the connections between whisky and writing.
Let us remember, too, festivals that are in our other languages—for example, the Blas festival in the Highlands offers in the autumn a unique celebration of traditional music and Gaelic. For other festivals, we can go to the east for the St Andrews StAnza poetry festival, the Coast visual arts festival in Banff, or Pittenweem for a painting festival. In the west, there is Celtic Connections, which celebrates music from across the world alongside home-grown Scottish talent. I was pleased to make my own festivals performing debut at Celtic Connections earlier this year.
I am pleased to speak about the success of the Edinburgh festivals and Scotland's other festivals, their contribution to the Scottish economy, their role in the cultural and wider life of the nation and the positive message that they promote about Scotland's cultural confidence and ambition.
We should remind ourselves of what that success looks like. Edinburgh is the pre-eminent festival capital of the world. Our festivals radiate creative excellence and artistic quality, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to Scotland every year and in so doing generates at least £185 million for the Scottish economy.
Although the focus of the debate will be Edinburgh, I take the opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful work that is under way throughout the nation on a diverse array of festivals and events, which do so much for our economy, our sense of who we are and our national creative spirit and reputation. They are also thoroughly enjoyable—that is an important part of what I will talk about.
It would be invidious to pluck any out of the air, but I will mention a couple of very different festivals. The St Magnus festival in Orkney is a wonderful celebration of a composer and his work; and T in the Park is a celebration of artistic excellence and many composers, if we can call them that, which attracts many thousands of people. In every part of Scotland, we could touch on one festival or event or another that celebrates the things that we need to celebrate. However, it is Edinburgh, of course, that is our festival city—but not just ours, because its position is of global significance. Scotland is a festivals nation and we have the world capital of festivals as our capital.
There is so much to talk about that I will not be able to capture the full festivals picture. I have already mentioned the St Magnus festival, Orkney's midsummer arts celebration, at which the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will perform this year. We also have festivals that are not music based, such as the Wigtown book festival, which is held annually in what is Scotland's national book town. This autumn, as part of Scotland's homecoming 2009 celebrations, Wigtown will host a unique festival within a festival, celebrating the connections between whisky and writing.
Let us remember, too, festivals that are in our other languages—for example, the Blas festival in the Highlands offers in the autumn a unique celebration of traditional music and Gaelic. For other festivals, we can go to the east for the St Andrews StAnza poetry festival, the Coast visual arts festival in Banff, or Pittenweem for a painting festival. In the west, there is Celtic Connections, which celebrates music from across the world alongside home-grown Scottish talent. I was pleased to make my own festivals performing debut at Celtic Connections earlier this year.
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...