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Edinburgh Jazz Festival
01/07/2008
The Edinburgh Jazz Festival is to receive £49,370 from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the UK's biggest jazz festival will use the Expo funding to provide a high-profile programme showcasing the biggest talents in Scottish jazz. 
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said:
"The Scottish Government is delighted to provide this support to the Edinburgh Jazz Festival. The Festival's track record in promoting Scottish jazz will be enhanced with our funding of the new annual Scottish Jazz Expo.
"The increased exposure talented Scottish artists gain from the Expo will raise the profile of the Scottish jazz scene here and internationally. I'm excited to see such a varied programme that will appeal to newcomers to jazz and aficionados alike.
"The Government's Expo Fund demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting the capital's festivals and recognising them as international showcases for Scottish work."
Brian Fallon, Chairman of the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, said:
"The Edinburgh Jazz Festival has made a significant contribution over the years to advancing the status of the Scottish jazz scene, with its unequalled commitment and strong promotional capability. As we move into our fourth decade, we wanted to increase our commitment, and thanks to the Scottish Government, we have been able to do it. We're sure the Scottish Jazz Expo is going to be a big hit."
Funding for the Edinburgh Jazz Festival marks the sixth project from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festival Expo Fund, launched on March 27, which supports new productions, events or exhibitions involving Scottish-based participants that premiere at any of the Edinburgh Festivals. The fund can also be used to support touring of events or performances after their premiere at the festival and allow successful work to reach new audiences.
The planned expenditure for the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund is £6 million over three years (2008-2009 to 2011-2012).
Resources of £1.308 million have been allocated in 2008-09. The assessment process and funding is administered by the Scottish Arts Council.
The Expo Fund is available to all 12 Festivals in Edinburgh to support the development of Scottish-based work.
The main role for co-ordinating and delivering the portfolio of Expo projects falls to Festivals Edinburgh, led by Faith Liddell. A panel comprising members of the Thundering Hooves steering group and Festivals Forum has recommended the projects for funding in 2008-09.
As previously announced, the Edinburgh International Festival successfully bid for £277,000 from the Expo Fund and the Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival of Theatre for Children and Young People received £26,400. The Expo Fund also provided £215,000 towards Edinburgh's Hogmanay Feet First event - a new project which will showcase a wide range of outdoor entertainment from the best local and national Scottish artists. Funding of £41,492 for the Edinburgh Mela Festival and £60,000 for the Edinburgh International Film Festival was announced last week. The remaining successful projects will be announced in due course.