Tag: Underbelly

Council pushes ahead with Winter Festival plans

Councillors have approved initial plans for delivering Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay differently this winter.

Thursday’s Policy and Sustainability Committee saw cross-party agreement for the proposals developed by the Council and event producers Underbelly to adapt this year’s festivals in light of COVID-19 and put ‘Edinburgh’s residents and businesses first’.

Further meetings for both events will now take place to refine plans and help to ensure Edinburgh’s place as the home of Hogmanay and world-class Christmas celebrations remains intact, before further details are launched later in the year.

The council insists the final go-ahead for events will remain subject to the latest public health guidance in Edinburgh.

Under the proposals Princes Street Gardens will continue to host the Big Wheel and Star Flyer and the much-criticised Christmas Market will also return, albeit with a renewed focus as the Edinburgh Chrsitmas Makers’ Market.

A City Centre Trail is alo being developed to ‘spread the footprint’ of events which previously have centred on East Princes Street Gardens

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We all agree that Edinburgh needs a very different approach to Christmas and Hogmanay this year. Safety absolutely needs to come first and I’m pleased that the proposal for lowering numbers and spreading activity so that we can continue to support local businesses has received cross-party support.

“These plans provide the people of Edinburgh with an enjoyable, fitting series of events to mark the end of what has been one of the most challenging years in living memory. There is a strong focus on support for local all-year-round business which will ensure that if events go ahead, our local traders will see even more benefit to help them survive and thrive.

“I can’t stress enough however that all plans will need to be subject to the latest public health guidance, and of course the continued containment of COVID-19 in Edinburgh, before we can say with certainty that these specific plans will take place.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “There is no question that we’ll have to adapt this year’s Winter Festivals and this report sets out how we intend to do that.

“We’ll be looking at dispersing the Christmas market from the City Centre and offering a special Torchlight event to thank key workers, and as far as we can we want to put on a programme we can all enjoy after a challenging year. Working with Underbelly, the city of Edinburgh will remain one of the world’s finest celebrations of Christmas and New Year.

“We’ll need to keep numbers lower but we also have an opportunity to spread activity further out to help support local businesses and communities. These events are so important for our local economy and we’ll use this winter as an opportunity to explore trying something new, using hardstanding surfaces wherever possible.

“We also need to make sure that at this critical time, when local businesses will need footfall more than ever, we put on a show which residents and visitors can really enjoy and come to, and that they are encouraged to support businesses while they’re here.”

Charlie Wood, a Director of Underbelly which produces Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay events on behalf of the Council, said: “We’re delighted that the Council has reached a unanimous decision on the way forward for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay.

“As we move forward into detailed planning, our absolute priority will continue to be public safety and putting Edinburgh first.

“We look forward to developing and delivering the programme in collaboration with the Council and other key partners to retain the city’s global status as a destination for Christmas and Hogmanay.”

Further information on what is proposed can be viewed in the Committee report, an Update on Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2020/2021.

Councillors to discuss winter festival plans

Councillors will consider an alternative approach for delivering Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay this winter when they meet this week.

Last month initial discussions took place exploring potential revised plans for how both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay could be celebrated in 2020, held by the Council All Party Oversight Group.

The proposals have since been developed and the Update on Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2020/2021 will be considered by the Policy and Sustainability Committee on Thursday (20 August).

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that the Council, together with Underbelly, the producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, have had to adapt plans to meet public health guidelines while still delivering events to celebrate Christmas and Hogmanay.

Plans being developed will put Edinburgh’s residents and businesses first as the City celebrates the festive season in new ways including dispersing the Christmas market from the city centre, a carefully managed torchlit event which will thank key workers during the pandemic and marking Hogmanay with visually spectacular moments across the city.

If approved by Councillors, there will be further meetings for both events to refine plans and a full launch will take place later in the year.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “It’s clear that this year’s Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay have to change in light of Covid-19 restrictions. These are unprecedented conditions and any public health requirements and guidance will be met in every eventuality. The safety of the public remains our priority and no events or activities will go ahead unless it is deemed safe for them to do so.

“I feel positive that we’ve found a safe way to celebrate Christmas at the end of what has been a challenging and for many, a life-changing year. By adapting this year’s event we’ll be able to keep numbers lower in each location while also spreading people further out to help support local businesses.

“If events are able to go ahead, they will not only be safe but also reflect the comments and feedback from residents on how Christmas and Hogmanay looks and feels in Edinburgh – with a strong emphasis on local year-round business and moving away from using green space to use hardstanding locations.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “Whilst Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay will look very different from recent years, I know the exciting plans being considered will continue to show Edinburgh as the best place to enjoy the Christmas festivities and welcome in our New Year celebrations.

“I would like to thank the teams involved for their work so far and if the approach is approved, we will continue to work together with Underbelly and partners to develop these further and hold some amazing events for all the family where we can celebrate Christmas and Hogmanay. Everyone involved recognises the uncertainty of the situation and we are all committed to meeting the significant requirements for anything Edinburgh hosts to meet appropriate public health guidance.”

Charlie Wood, Director of Underbelly, said: “We have enjoyed working collaboratively to ensure Edinburgh Council’s vision for the Winter Festivals can become a reality. Working together, our absolute priority is public safety and our aim for both events is to put Edinburgh first.

“Once agreed by the council, we are confident these will be events the city will be proud of, which will support the community and preserve the city’s global status as a destination for Christmas and Hogmanay. We are very excited about the events and look forward to sharing the programme once the Council has reached its decision.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Like all events, Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay is having to adapt to operating in a new norm. The City of Edinburgh Council and Underbelly are developing a programme that maintains the spirit and reputation Hogmanay and Christmas in the city while adhering to Scottish Government guidelines.

“Events are an important part of our communities as they not only bring us great entertainment, they also sustain livelihoods and bring social and economic change. We look forward to working with the City of Edinburgh Council and Underbelly to develop plans for this year’s event.”

Underbelly Stars to take part in fundraising campaign to support Fringe artists

Phoebe Waller Bridge among Underbelly Stars to offer Rewards in new Fundraising Campaign where 100% goes to support the Artists.

www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/donate

Today Underbelly has launched a fundraiser to support artists who were due to appear at Underbelly Fringe 2020. 100% of all donations received will go straight to artists from this year’s planned programme and who desperately need this help. 

By donating the cost of a ticket, £12, you can help artists bridge the loss of actual ticket sales they hoped to receive this year and by donating more you can make a massive difference and access a ladder of rewards.

For the first time in twenty years Underbelly has had to close its doors to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The purple cow is deflated, the Cowgate remains a carpark and the venues have been silenced of the laughter and awe of performers and audiences alike.

Each year artists, performers, producers, technicians, stage managers, lighting, sound and set designers, to name but a few, spend months carefully cultivating exciting, innovative, ground-breaking and daring work to be performed tirelessly for 25 days in a row.

Often this gruelling month of blood sweat and tears launches careers, shines light on new stars and shakes up the cultural world as we know it.

For many of those working in this field the cancellation of the 2020 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the restrictions placed around live performance will pose serious challenges financially and creatively and will no doubt force some to look elsewhere.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a place for everyone and everything, it’s important and necessary and it is vital we retain the artists that make it what it is.

220 Underbelly shows have been lost this year and countless numbers of artists and those working behind the scenes have been placed in dire financial situations, and that accounts for only a small percentage of the overall Fringe. Without their input into the creative world the cultural landscape for the future will change forever.

For those who can afford to donate a little more than the £12 cost of a ticket to the fundraiser there are lots of moo-vellous rewards on offer including a named thank you in the 2021 programme (£20 or more), Gold membership of Abattoir, the private artists bar in George Square (£50 or more), 10 tickets to the 10 hottest shows curated by the programming team (£70 or more), Backstage Meet and Greet with the artist of choice, tickets and fizz (£100 or more), Fleabag Poster from the first show performed in Edinburgh at Underbelly in 2013 signed by Phoebe Waller Bridge (£400 or more), Cocktail Party for 10 in Abattoir with mixologists Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood (£400 or more), All expenses paid trip to Edinburgh for a Fringe weekend like no other (£800 or more), or for £1000 (or more) free tickets to any Underbelly shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the next two years.

Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood, directors of Underbelly said: “Edinburgh is where it all started, in a dingy cave, twenty years ago. It’s our life blood, our home, a place where genuinely anything can happen and incredible memories have been made.

“To not be there this year is heart-breakingly devastating but it is also a time for reflection and understanding that for this year, we must step back and put the safety of others first.

“We would love to support and help everyone but what we feel we should do at this time is to support those artists that were due to perform at the Underbelly this year.

We are asking you to help us support these artists to get through this most difficult of all times and more importantly keep them working in an industry that needs and values them. Without them there is no Underbelly, there is no Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to all of those have been affected by Covid 19 and our most heartfelt thank-yous to those on the frontline who have been working tirelessly to keep our country moving. We will be offering a special discount on all tickets to UK NHS staff at next year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe by way of thank you.”

Grace and Rach from Ugly Bucket said: “As a regional emerging theatre company, Fringe is a huge opportunity for our work to be seen on a huge international platform.

“Underbelly took the time to get to know us as a company, and understand how they can best support us and showcase our work. It is a bespoke, personal experience that is so valuable in a festival that can feel so intimidating! You would never find a techno filled clowning show about grief anywhere else but the Edinburgh Fringe.”    

Jason Byrne added: “This is such a hard time for so many on the circuit, and the cancellation of the Fringe this year has been a massive blow to us all.

“This is a cracking fundraiser. Underbelly is making sure that 100% goes to the artists and there are some great rewards on offer. Who wouldn’t want to donate and secure all those tickets, backstage access and signed posters! Please do give what you can whether it is the price of a ticket, or a few pints too.”

On being told about the fundraiser, Gaby from Circus Abyssinia said: “We would love for Circus Abyssinia: Tulu to be included in the Underbelly relief fund. 

“A huge thanks to Underbelly for setting this up, we’re very grateful especially as the cast doesn’t have a furlough scheme or any support back in Ethiopia.” 

Cecilia Martin from Circa said: “Experiencing Edinburgh Festival Fringe under the umbrella of Underbelly has always been such a supportive, professional and hilariously fun experience.

he team is such a powerhouse and create an incredible atmosphere for us to thrive in as artists.”

#SaveOurArtists

Twitter: @followthecow

Instagram: @UnderbellyEdinburgh

Facebook: Underbelly Edinburgh

www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/donate

Underbelly withdraws Hogmanay street ticket sales

REVERSE FERRET OVER HOGMANAY PLANS

Controversial Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival organisers Underbelly have halted ticket sales for this year’s event – just hours after announcing ‘exciting plans’ for the New Year celebrations.

Tickets for the Hogmanay Street party were still on sale on the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2020 website yesterday afternoon, but sales were halted and information updated on the site last night.

A statement issued by Underbelly last night said: “As has been reported, exciting and positive discussions are taking place between City of Edinburgh Council and Underbelly in relation to the Hogmanay programme for 2020.

“However, it is clear to all parties that the famous Street Party cannot take place in its current form in 2020 and tickets are today being taken off sale.

“Customers who have booked tickets will be contacted in the next 14 days to be offered a full refund.”

Yesterday afternoon, BBC Scotland had reported:

Tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party have gone on sale with organisers saying it “will be a pivotal moment for the world”.

It follows a meeting on Tuesday looking into how the Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay could be celebrated at the end of the year.

Organiser Underbelly said it was “excited by the events being discussed”.

A final decision on this year’s activities is expected in late August.

Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Underbelly, said: “We’re working closely and positively with City of Edinburgh Council and other partners on plans for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay.

“This will be a pivotal moment for the world both to reflect on 2020 and to look to the future, and the safety of Edinburgh’s residents and visitors is critical to how these plans evolve.

“We’re excited by the events being discussed and look forward to sharing the details in the coming weeks.”

‘Positive discussions’

Adam McVey, City of Edinburgh council leader, said: “The council is having positive discussions on how Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay could be celebrated this year.

“All involved recognise the uncertainty of the current situation and the significant requirements for anything Edinburgh hosts to meet public health guidance.

“It’s clear that if our 2020 winter festivals go ahead they will look very different from recent years, using different locations across the city.

“It is also important to think more creatively about how to better support our local businesses who have been impacted by the lockdown.”

The tickets are priced at £21.50 with 50p from every ticket being donated to the Brain Tumour Charity.

The city council’s press team later announced:

Initial discussions exploring potential revised plans for how both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay could be celebrated in 2020 began yesterday with the Council All Party Oversight Group.

A final decision on this year’s activities is expected in late August.

Representatives from all political parties met with senior officers and Winter Festivals’ producers, Underbelly, to discuss a range of proposals, which take account of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and associated health and safety considerations.

Following the positive informal discussions, the proposals will be developed further before being reported to the Council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee in late August for a decision.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “The Council is having positive discussions on how Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay could be celebrated this year. All involved recognise the uncertainty of the current situation and the significant requirements for anything Edinburgh hosts to meet public health guidance.

“It’s clear that if our 2020 Winter Festivals go ahead they will look very different from recent years, using different locations across the City. It is also important to think more creatively about how to better support our local businesses who have been impacted by the lockdown.

“Any events will need to give our residents a truly Edinburgh experience that helps discover more of our fantastic businesses that operate all year round. Work is underway with our partners to further investigate the feasibility of these new proposals and Councillors will agree the way forward in the coming weeks.

Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “We’re the proud hosts to what are well established and internationally renowned winter festivals and, in light of the ongoing global pandemic, we’re looking at alternative ways to mark them in a meaningful, workable and safe way.

“I feel positive that our Edinburgh will be able to celebrate Christmas and Hogmanay this year. However, the safety of residents and visitors remains paramount and we need some time to develop and check feasibility of proposals before a final plan can be brought forward for a final decision in August.”

Confused? All will become clear in August. Maybe.

The Citizen Network: A Revitalised City is Possible

There is no better time for the citizens of Edinburgh to pitch in and contribute to a Manifesto for the City Creating Our Manifesto for the City ⋆ The Citizen Network

Calls for no return to unequal and unjust normalcy following Covid-19 have come from many quarters, some of them quite unexpected, and there’s no doubt that many of the persistent problems of city life will be reassessed by those who govern us, whether that be Westminster, Holyrood or Edinburgh City Chambers.

But let’s not fool ourselves, what’s promised by politicians now may never transpire. Real change will not happen without direct action by citizens; for Edinburgh, Citizen’s Manifesto is the first step.

 

The need for citizens to hold politicians to account is already evident from reports of ‘stakeholder’ discussions pertaining to post-pandemic Edinburgh.

Consider first what Council leader Adam McVey had to say about the city’s Summer festivals: “By working together we can make sure that when our festivals return, they do so with even more of a focus on our people, place and environment.” So far so good but one is tempted to question the ‘even more’ – there has been scant attention to people place and environment in festival planning in recent years.

[“Edinburgh festivals face calls for overhaul before they return in 2021”]

In the same Scotsman article note that the city’s residents are absent when our cherished heritage is flagged up as needing not just preservation but enhancement by the festivals. Clearly, this pipe-dream does not extend to those who live in this ‘remarkable backdrop’.

But it’s the reaction of Essential Edinburgh that confirms that not all stakeholders are thinking about anything other than business as usual post Covid-19.

Roddy Smith, the Chief Executive, says “We need to reactivate the city, promote it strongly and widely and seek over the next couple of years to return to our numbers pre the virus.”

The same message can be deduced from the report from the meeting last week of the new tourism ‘oversight group’ for Edinburgh.

The group includes Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG), Edinburgh Airport, Festivals Edinburgh, Visit Scotland, Essential Edinburgh and the Chamber of Commerce – again not one resident has a seat at the table. Adam McVey reported that the group had reaffirmed the aims of Edinburgh’s new Tourism Strategy which was agreed pre-pandemic.

How can this be? Have we learned nothing these last few weeks?

So, the coronavirus will not miraculously change our world for the better. The citizens will have to insist on it, and the Manifesto for the City is an excellent starting place.

Let’s face it, change is difficult – most of us are stuck with at least one foot in the past and are in some way resigned to the way things are. To paraphrase a French philosopher, we are all ‘half accomplices’, demanding radical change while at the same time clinging to what we have become accustomed to.

But the city will change whether we like it or not, and citizens need to rise to the challenge and drive that change – now is the time to articulate our values and our aspirations; now is the time to really get beyond ourselves.

SEAN BRADLEY

Image credit: Astrid Jaekel

Princes Street Gardens – no more business as usual!

As per my previous post, this will be an issue in Edinburgh when the world returns to what passes as normality:

A message from The Citizen Network:

PRINCES STREET GARDENS – NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL

This is an appeal for concerned residents of Edinburgh and any others who care about the protection of green spaces to submit emails to the Parks Dept of the Edinburgh City Council parks@edinburgh.gov.uk on behalf of the wellbeing of Princes Street Gardens, their use as gardens, memorials, appropriate community focused activities and crucial city centre green space for the benefit of the residents of Edinburgh as communal owners of this common good land and our guests. The deadline is 6 March, 2020.

This appeal relates to the proposed Summer Sessions concert series for 2020.

The Issue:

With issues coming to the fore concerning city centre parks, (especially those that are on our common good land and collectively owned by the people of Edinburgh), being prioritised as event venues over the gardens, memorials and green spaces that they are, we have seen the compounding damage that has been inflicted on our parks.

Perhaps it is time to tell the city that events and festivals, especially those for private profit are better suited to more appropriate venues.

Tourism, events and festivals will always be a part of Edinburgh.

However, the industry needs to better choose venues for their events that will not cause compounding, and in many cases, irreversible ecological damage to our crucial and historically valuable green spaces.

The industry should also be more mindful of the scale and size of their events and festivals as we are a finite city with limited resources currently facing austerity and cuts to our crucial services. Our green spaces deserve crucial and vital protection from the impacts of this misuse.

What you can do:

Send an email by 6th March 2020 to Parks Dept of the Edinburgh City Council parks@edinburgh.gov.uk

Tell them your concerns about the gardens and object to their use to host the Summer Sessions of 2020.

Finally, the Old Town Community Council recently made public on twitter the following:

@EdinOldTownCC

#WPSG will be predominantly closed for 25 days in August. If you don’t want to be effectively barred from #WestPrincesStreetGardens for those 25 days, then please email your objection to parks@edinburgh.gov.uk by Friday 6th March. More objections mean it’s less likely to happen!

Events have clearly moved on since the Ciziten Network first posted this in March, but organisers are keen that the issue is kept in the public eye. Happy to help – Ed.

Greens: Government must ensure public funding protects community assets

The Scottish Government must take responsibility for the funding it provides to Edinburgh’s Christmas and New Year celebrations and ensure that communities and public assets are protected, according to Lothian MSP Alison Johnstone.

Ms Johnstone raised the matter at Culture Questions in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, highlighting local controversy and damage to parks and public assets caused by various events in the city, and received confirmation from the Scottish Government that it provided hundreds of thousands to support these festivities.

Alison Johnstone MSP said: “The Scottish Government must take responsibility for the funding it provides and ensure this supports our communities. Serious community concerns have been repeatedly raised about the impact of Christmas and New Year events, and we must guarantee that these issues are addressed in future.

“Clearly the primary responsibility for these events lies with the City of Edinburgh Council, but Ministers must also use their influence to ensure these events don’t negatively impact our communities.

“Princes Street Gardens’ parks are much loved and sit at the heart of a world heritage site.

“We must make sure this precious community asset is protected so that local people and visitors alike are able to enjoy these celebrations.

“The First Minister recently reminded us that wellbeing should be at the heart of our economy. If government are to live up to this, they must ensure that important public places are adequately valued.”

City for Sale?

The commodification of our public places

One of the defining issues currently in front of the City of Edinburgh is how we value our public places. Should Princes Street Gardens be an oasis of green-ness and tranquillity, or should it be the city’s performance hub, the Go To place for happening events and Festival activities?

Should civic spaces be open for the unrestricted access of City dwellers and City visitors alike; or should they be a gated venue accessible only to ticket holders and promoters?

How we value public space is how we value the city overall. The Cockburn Association has been increasingly concerned about the commercialisation of our squares, our parks and our streets. We are concerned about the erosion of public investment in public places.

We are concerned that the voice of residents is decreasingly heard. We are concerned that this view is shared by many. Is this right?

As the city prepares numerous strategies and policies including City Plan 2030 (a new Local Development Plan) and a new Tourism Strategy, now is the time to galvanise opinion.

On Wednesday 22 January 2020, we will hold a Public Summit in the Central Hall, West Tollcross, open to all who share our concerns (and those who don’t too).

Save the Date. Further details will be available in early 2020.

Terry Levinthal

Director, The Cockburn Association

Edinburgh Civic Trust