The cancellation of the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, due to take place this August, has been announced.
The Festival has run continuously since 1947, emphasising how dark these days are for the arts and performance.
This announcement comes two or three weeks after the announcement of the cancellation of the Brighton Festival and Fringe, which happens earlier in May/June annually.
Both main Festivals are supporters of dance but the Edinburgh Festival Fringe especially is a hotbed of development and audience-honing for all manner of shows that would normally be picked up for - or gain enough momentum for - touring in the following year or two. Where buzz is created, talent spotted and careers are started.
Heartbreaking on every level, these cancellations will impoverish and imperil for many months after life has been restored.
But that is where we are now and what we must face.
Do not send in the clowns.
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The Festival has run continuously since 1947, emphasising how dark these days are for the arts and performance.
This announcement comes two or three weeks after the announcement of the cancellation of the Brighton Festival and Fringe, which happens earlier in May/June annually.
Both main Festivals are supporters of dance but the Edinburgh Festival Fringe especially is a hotbed of development and audience-honing for all manner of shows that would normally be picked up for - or gain enough momentum for - touring in the following year or two. Where buzz is created, talent spotted and careers are started.
Heartbreaking on every level, these cancellations will impoverish and imperil for many months after life has been restored.
But that is where we are now and what we must face.
Do not send in the clowns.
