Let’s start from the basis that Underbelly’s events have been a disaster and should be shut down immediately (writes MIKE SMALL).
They soak up public money, refuse to be transparent about their profits, cause environmental damage to public parks, and shut down and blight open spaces held in the common good.
It’s entirely the city council’s fault that this has been allowed to happen but it needs shut down now.
Here’s some ground rules for what should replace it:
1. We’re in the midst of a climate emergency – that should be the basis and guide to all public planning and large-scale events.
2. The local communities of Edinburgh should be considered and consulted about large-scale events and their views should be respected, not asked then ignored.
Public consultation should take the form of assembles where people can openly voice their concerns and views. Allied to this we need to map the power and ask how one company was allowed to develop such a monopoly on events?
3. Local businesses should benefit from city centre events, not be undermined by them
4. Public spaces should not be commodified, shut off and damaged. People have the right to walk the streets, view their own city and enter their own public parks without charge. This is a right.
5. Festivals should have some cultural context. Scotland’s wealth of food and drink should be utilised. It’s bizarre for Edinburgh to be hosting a German-themed festival.
6. In deep winter we want song and story. There is a long tradition of this and it is responding to a deep need. That should be the basis of any festival. This could be an opportunity to show some solidarity with people who are homeless, hungry or vulnerable.
7. We need to move away from the idea that without these ‘entrepreneurs’ nothing would happen. It’s not a binary choice between Underbelly’s vast events and Edinburgh as a bankrupt culturally bereft city.
8. There are dozens of artists, musicians and event organisers who would contribute to appropriate-scaled events across the city. Let’s scale it back, let the city breath and create culturally meaningful celebration.
9. Scotland gave the world Hogmanay and “Auld Lang Syne”, now we need to reclaim it and delve into the rich lore of tradition which it comes from.
10. Let’s re-imagine the city as a sustainable place for people to live in, one of social justice and equality, not just a space for consumption and profit.
Mike Small
The Citizen Network
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