People Flock To Edinburgh’s Festivals. Is That Bad?

Is Edinburgh too established, perhaps even too successful, a festival city for its own good? “From Cape Town to Adelaide, from Dubai to Montreal, cities are turning to arts festivals to boost tourist numbers and civic prestige. (Indeed, Montreal boasts more ‘festival days’ each year than there are days in the year.) Edinburgh faces increased competition in the UK too. Liverpool will be the 2008 European City of Culture. The Manchester International Festival, under the directorship of innovative programmer Alex Poots, plans to concentrate on new and original work when it makes its debut next year. London, of course, will host the 2012 Olympics. Never mind the next few weeks: it’s the next 12 months that may be among the most decisive in Edinburgh’s cultural history.”