Edinburgh People's Festival 2003

News From The Edinburgh People's Festival

Wed 7th Aug 2003
For Immediate Release


Whose Festival is it Anyway?

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Billed as the 'biggest arts debate of the year', some of the most outspoken names in the arts world will converge on Wester Hailes next Thursday 14th to debate whether the Edinburgh Festival has become elitist and out of touch with it's origins.


As part of the programme of this years Edinburgh People's Festival Paul Gudgin, Director of the Fringe and Brian McMaster of the International Festival will face theatre impresario Richard Demarco, author Angus Calder, local actor Tam Dean Burn, Robert Rae of the Theatre Workshop, Kevin Williamson of Rebel Inc and Tommy Shepard of The Stand Comedy Club. The sparring will be refereed by Sian Fiddimore of the Wester Hailes Arts Centre.


People's Festival spokesman Colin Fox explained that the event was a platform to bring all the contentious debates 'out into the open'.


'Whose Culture is it anyway? Is a forum where Festival organisers come face to face with their critics. So watch out for fireworks in Wester Hailes. I am delighted that so many of the most outspoken figures in the city have agreed to come along to put forward their position.


Does the Edinburgh Festival meet the needs of all the people of the city? Is the world's biggest arts festival too expensive and too remote? Couldn't the festival be taking place anywhere? These questions and many others are being discussed in theatres and pubs across Edinburgh all month. Here they get aired in the same venue with some of those decision makers present.


I am sure the passions will flow and in case anybody gets overheated Sian has a bucket of iced water to tip over them.'


The Edinburgh People's Festival begins this Sunday 10th Aug at the Jack Kane Centre in Craigmillar.


A series of events will take place at various locations across the city over the week. The arts debate in Wester Hailes is one of them.


ENDS


Contacts ;
Colin Fox, MSP, Edinburgh People's Festival Tel 07790 581 883
Richard Demarco, 07748 961315
Sian Fiddimore 0131 337 0111
Robert Rae 07803 928217


Note to Journalists
The Edinburgh People's Festival runs Sun 10th August to Sat 16th August at locations across the city.
All tickets cost £2.
More than fifty entertainers [comics, musicians, bands, singers, poets, artists and photographers, actors and writers] are involved.