Film Festival (est. 1947) are all well known for the cultural diversity of their programming. While some film festivals receive an element of state funding most are membership based, non-profit obtain financial support from members of the public, writers and filmmakers making for a slightly unusual business model. Nevertheless, film festivals have long since come to be firmly established on the agendas of cultural ambassadors. They are often seen as a good opportunity for cultural diplomacy using key influencers such as filmmakers, actors and writers. The Edinburgh International Arts Festival offers a great example of international arts showcasing. Established in 1947, it was the brainchild of Rudolph Bing (General Manager of the Glyndebourne Opera Festival) and Audrey Mildmay, co-founder of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, (though often overlooked in favour of her husband John Christie, the other co-founder), and then presented to Harvey Wood, Head of the British Council in Scotland at the time and Sir John Falconer, the then Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The idea was approved and the Festival has run annually for 3 weeks in August – with the accompanying Festival Fringe running alongside it – ever since. The International Festival is aimed at promoting the high arts, with world-class performers from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world showcasing the best of performing arts to home and international audiences. One objective of the festival is to ‘offer an international showcase for Scotland’s rich culture’. This is mirrored by the Edinburgh International Film Festival which is staged in June. Other festivals have attached their programming to the Edinburgh International Festival, for example the Book Festival, this expanded offer encourages some of the city’s summer visitors to extend their stay. Edinburgh’s International Festival presents a good example of artists, civic leaders, industry, policy makers and members of the public and friends of the festival coming together to produce and consume the best international performing arts has to offer, while also ensuring partnerships, relationships and friendships are created and maintained across boundaries and borders. Such interactions lend themselves to the expansion of cultural relations and cultural diplomacy for those in positions to influence.
4.2 ‘Years of’ (Focus Years) Years of Focus9 are a conscious policy approach to funded themed years and events. In some cases, cultural programmes for major sporting occasions (i.e. the London 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games) are utilised as springboards for ‘Years of’ events on the premise that by extending an invitation to the cultural sector to respond creatively to a set theme, greater value
9
Sometimes referred to as ‘Winning Years.’
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