Edinburgh Book Festival 2025 funding: FOI release

Information requested

Can I be sent all communication to and from the government about funding for the Edinburgh book festival in 2025.

Can I be sent the process for applying for this kind of funding.  I want to know how the process works e.g. how do people apply, how are these grants approved, what committee’s do they need to go through for approval.  Who signs these applications off etc. etc.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.

Some of the information you have requested in your first question is available from : £300,000 boost for Edinburgh International Book Festival - gov.scot. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections Section 25(1)  Section 33(1)(b) and Section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below:

• Section 25(1) - as set out above, the information is already available online.
• Section 33(1)(b) - the information is sensitive financial information of a third party organisation, and disclosure would (or would be likely to) prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person or organisation.
• Section 38(1)(b) - the exemptions in section 38(1)(b) regulate the relationship between FOISA, the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. 

The answer to your second question is:

Scottish Government Ministers took the decision on 28 March 2025 to provide this one-off funding for the Edinburgh International Book Festival to support their Schools Programme.  Due diligence was undertaken over several months, following the conclusion of the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s 2024 festival programme, to provide a basis on which to support Ministerial decision making.

Multiple discussions took place between the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Scottish Government officials, as well as extensive discussions between Scottish Government officials and Creative Scotland counterparts.   Central to this due diligence process was the timing of the outcome of the Creative Scotland Multi Year Funding (MYF) awards to ascertain the level of support that the festival needed to continue the programme.   As MYF decisions were awaited, a number of financial forecasts that the festival provided relative to possible outcomes of MYF were modelled,  ascertaining the level of need and focusing on projected income, expenditure, and resource allocation over the proposed delivery period.

The model was evaluated for internal consistency and alignment with the programme’s aims, and historical data and previous project benchmarks were used to validate key assumptions on the success of their programme.

The organisation’s past performance in delivering educational and community projects was considered, alongside its financial governance and reporting processes. The review found that the proposal was financially robust and achievable, with a clear plan for sustainable delivery.

Following confirmation of the Multi Year Funding MYF outcome, extensive discussions took place with Creative Scotland to reach a shared view.  Advice was then provided to Scottish Government Ministers to support their decision making on this issue.

Analysis concluded that, without the aforementioned one-off support, the festival would need to stop their schools programme, a key part of their strategic plan. Therefore the decision was taken to protect the schools programme following the loss of corporate sponsors.

In addition to the due diligence undertaken, it is the view of Scottish Ministers that a programme which aims to provide each of the 5000 children participating annually with a range of free, in-person events, free books and supporting accessibility through a Transport Fund, is a worthy endeavour for us to support by ensuring it continues.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500473126 - Information Released - Annex

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