The first ever Edinburgh Festivals Open Breakfast Debate is being held on Saturday 15 August looking at ways in which Edinburgh can enhance its reputation as the "world's leading Festival City".
Organisers of the new event, the Festivals Forum, intend to bring together festival directors, organisers, promoters, venue and accommodation providers, key public agencies, elected members, stakeholders and audiences to debate the issues and opportunities facing Edinburgh's Festivals and identify joint strategies to address these now and into the future.
The Festivals Forum is a high level commission set up to ensure Edinburgh's medium to long term position as top festival city. Issues raised in the debate and indeed, the solutions proposed, will be recorded and reported back to the full Festivals Forum meeting in September.
The debate will be chaired by John McCormick from the Festivals Forum and the panel will include Councillor Steve Cardownie, Deputy Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council and their Festivals and Events Champion, Paul Bush, CEO of EventScotland, Norman Springford, CEO of Apex Hotels and Chair of the Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance, Kath Mainland, Chief Executive of the Fringe and Faith Liddell, Director of Festivals Edinburgh.
"This first ever Edinburgh Festivals Open Debate will give all interested parties the chance to air their views and will help us to identify joint strategies to ensure that our Festivals continue to play a world-beating role now and in the future," said Cllr Cardownie.
The event is being held at Appleton Towers, University of Edinburgh (and Fringe Central during August).
Issues raised in the debate and the solutions proposed, will be recorded and reported back to the full Festivals Forum meeting in September.
Spaces are still available for the debate: please contact Rebecca Peppiette on 0131 529 6718, [email protected].