Cash to help musicians forge European links
The Scottish Government is supporting some of Scotland’s most talented musicians to develop links with European music festivals.
The government has awarded £155,000 towards the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival’s work in 2013 to unite musicians from Scotland and around the world in a series of collaborative concerts.
The funding has supported the development of nine international collaborations that will perform in Edinburgh and across south and central Scotland over the next fortnight as part of this year’s jazz festival. Two collaborations will go on to perform at festivals in Italy and Lithuania and work is ongoing to secure international links for several of the others.
Speaking as the 2013 Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival got underway, Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said:-“The Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund ensures that Scotland’s own exceptional talent is placed at the heart of our world-renowned festivals and our artists can benefit from the global exposure the festivals can bring. Through the fund, we are exploiting every opportunity to develop important cultural links with other countries. The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival is delivering on each of these important aims through its unique programme of international collaborations.
“We’ve awarded the festival more than £750,000 since 2009 and we’ve seen that money make a real and lasting difference to the growth and reach of the festival and to the many musicians its Expo projects have promoted and supported along the way.
“The festival has a proven track record of bringing some of the very best musicians to Scotland from across the globe, attracting audiences from far and wide to experience for themselves, Scotland’s rich culture, heritage and distinct identity.
“This year’s programme of high-quality collaborations will enthral and delight audiences and raise the profile of some of Scotland’s best jazz musicians to audiences in Edinburgh, around Scotland and in Europe.”
Roger Spence, Producer of Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, said:
“The ongoing Expo funded programme has seen Scottish musicians linking with musicians from many parts of the world and creating projects which have long term impact. It allows for collaborations and ties to be created with countries in Europe and beyond that would otherwise simply not have been possible. And for the first time, in 2013, we have been able to present some of our extraordinary international collaborations in other towns and cities around Scotland, too. It looks set to be a big success.”
For a flavour of the jazz on offer (albeit from California!) watch our video here:-
And yes we know the photo accompanying this article is not of a Scottish musician! She is Tia Fuller who plays with Beyoncé and the photo is courtesy of Keith Major and the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
