The Culture Convener looks forward to the 2017 Festival

“It’s a great view up here,” said the Culture Convener, Councillor Donald Wilson as we went up on the Festival Wheel in Princes Street Gardens.

He has a message for everyone in Edinburgh at the moment gearing up for the Fringe and the Festival which begin properly tomorrow.

Cllr Wilson said : “It’s going to be a record-breaking year, and there are lots of exciting things in store. I would urge everybody to get involved, participate and be part of it.

“The great thing about this year there are lots of things for people to do, as well as see, so it is not just something to come and look at, it is something to actually come and get involved in. The whole city at this time of year is international, multi-national, multicultural and it’s a great joy.”

The festivals bring a lot of visitors and money to Edinburgh. Cllr Wilson continued: “The economic impact is absolutely immense. Most people would  not even realise the sheer scale of the benefits are to Edinburgh. £280million benefit to Edinburgh, £313 million benefit to the whole of Scotland from the 11 major festivals. It’s absolutely vital for us for the city’s economy.

The Culture Convener has many festival events in the diary this year to go and see:  “There are lots of different things for me to go to this year. I personally like Italian opera a lot so I am really looking forward to La Boheme which is my favourite opera. That is a happy accident!

“There are lots of plays like  Minefield the host event at The Hub and Rhinoceros. I am looking forward to those. There are also lots of Chinese events this year.

“We have a Memorandum of Understanding with Shenzhen and are working to develop the creative industries in the two cities.

“The opening event Bloom will be amazing. It is called Bloom because this is the blooming or the flowering of the human spirit celebrating 70 years of the festival. It is no ordinary year. The Festival, Fringe and the Tattoo by a different name and the film festival were all started at the same time in 1947 so this is a celebration of 70 years of successful events.

“There are other cultural events going on as well. It’s also celebrating 70 years of Indian independence. This is Indian UK Year of culture so there will be lots of Indian and Asian events and  a big presence during the estival as well. It is incredibly international.”

It is a bit windy up there on the wheel!