AAAE 2017

Join your colleagues for a cocktails reception at Dovecot Studios, just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's City Centre. The evening will feature a panel discussion from leaders of Edinburgh's creative community (details below).

Culture Planning and Collaboration in the City of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is recognized as one of the most successful cultural cities in the world – an extraordinary architectural heritage, vibrant festivals and events, significant venues and collections, and home to a diverse and inventive range of artists, creative enterprise and innovators.

What makes a culturally successful city, and how does it remain so? Whose responsibility is it? Who measures the success? What are the challenges for those involved on the ground – the artists, companies, venues, and funders, who make things happen? How does it remain relevant to those who want to participate, to learn, or enjoy? How do you balance local, national and international activity in a tight fiscal environment?

Moderated by Edinburgh's Director of Culture, this session will explore the city's cultural ecology with several arts leaders. The primary topic will be Edinburgh’s recent culture policy refresh process and systems that have been created to support artists and creatives. 

Shona McCarthy will take us on an illustrated journey of her work as cultural leader in Northern Ireland during times of conflict and peace and the vital role that culture and arts played in both her professional and personal journey. From Belfast to Derry via India, Jordan, Indonesia, the US and many other places besides, she will take us to her current role at the helm of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the organization that underpins the world’s largest Arts Festival. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, what are the challenges and opportunities for an arts festival in the local and global context of 2017?