Over 5,000 schoolchildren will continue to enjoy free literary
events from the Edinburgh International Book Festival over the
next three years, thanks to a £300,000 grant from the Scottish
Government.
The one-off funding will support the festival's acclaimed schools
programme with more than 60 in-person and livestreamed events,
including author talks with How to Train Your Dragon
author Cressida Cowell and award-winning storyteller Frank
Cottrell-Boyce.
The grant will also maintain travel cost support and free tickets
for pupils whose families are unable to cover the cost of
ticketed events, ensuring young people of all backgrounds across
Edinburgh have an opportunity to participate in the
internationally renowned festival. Children attending will
receive a free book through the philanthropy of Book Festival
donors as well.
This investment comes as part of a record £34 million increase in
Scotland's Culture budget for 2025-26, which includes an increase
of £4 million for Scottish Festivals, towards the government's
commitment to invest an additional £100 million annually in the
arts and culture by 2028-29.
Creative Scotland has already awarded the Edinburgh International
Book Festival £1,880,000 in public multi-year funding for the
next three years, more than doubling previous support.
Minister for Business and Employment said:
“The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one the country's
most significant cultural institutions. Its schools programme has
been crucial in fostering literacy and cultural engagement among
young people, with thousands of pupils benefiting annually from
free events and resources.
“This funding secures those benefits for young readers across
Edinburgh, helping schools that might otherwise struggle with
travel costs, and ensuring they have the same opportunity to take
part in one of the world's leading literary festivals.”
Jenny Niven, Festival Director & CEO of Edinburgh
International Book Festival said:
“The work the Book Festival does for children and young people is
a cornerstone of what we do. Publishing for children and young
people has never been more vibrant, and the benefits of reading
never better evidenced.
“The Festival is perfectly positioned to help children engage
with the amazing range and breadth of stories around them, to
support teachers to use books imaginatively and creatively in
learning, and to supply older kids with the tools to think
critically, and learn to evaluate the deluge of info around them.
This aspect of what we do is vital, and we're delighted to have
specific public funding support to develop this work further in
the coming years.
“We've identified the cost of transport as a key barrier to a
wider cohort of schools joining us in August, and are committed
to maintaining free access for as many children as possible.
We're delighted that the Scottish Government's increased support
for festivals has delivered public funding to develop this work
further in the coming years and we look forward to widening our
reach across Scotland and exploring further the digital potential
of what we do.”
Background:
About | Edinburgh International
Book Festival
Schools Programme –
Learning | Edinburgh International Book Festival
Multi-Year Funding Outcome
Announcement | Creative Scotland
