FESTIVAL IN RED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 23

FESTIVAL IN RED

Edinburgh Lost £13,380

The Edinburgh Festival lost £13,383 last year, compared with a profit of nearly £40,000 in 1964, the “Financial Times” reported. Total cost of productions was £221,952 and revenue was £170,848. Donations increased by more than £lO,OOO to £118,336. The report says: “The 1965 Festival emerged with credit to the Festival Society, not only on the artistic side but on the management side. It is the continuing intention of the society to aim at outstanding festivals while at the same time maintaining strict budgetary control. In a world where the cost of everything increases, the cost of festivals cannot remain unchanged.” Commencing on the fact that the festival fund now stands at £51,109, the report says: “The Edinburgh International Festival with its inherent artistic responsibilities and obligations, must have resources to meet the possibility of artistic success which are not necessarily equalled by financial ones. The fund is still too low to ensure this.

Edinburgh Corporation gave a total of £75,000 towards the cost of the 1964 Festival. For the 1965 event, the corporation has so far given £50,000.