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Cartoon by BEX MITCHELL
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Local events companies to run Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations
Festive favourites
Final curtain
comes down
By PHYLLIS STEPHENTHE EDINBURGH International Film
Festival (EIFF) collapsed last month
as its parent charity Centre for the
Moving Image (CMI) went into
administration. CMI also ran Filmhouse
Cinema and Café Bar. Trading ceased
immediately leading to 102
redundancies here and in Aberdeen.
The board of the CMI issued this
statement: “We have been proud to have
led the CMI through incredibly
challenging times, and in particular
during the worst days of the pandemic.
Unfortunately, the combination of
sharply increasing energy and other
costs, together with both the lasting
impacts of the pandemic and the rapidly
emerging cost of living crisis affecting
cinema attendances, means that we have
had no other option but to appoint
administrators at this time.
“We would like to put on record our
immense gratitude to the entire staff
team whose passion for film as an
artform, and for the audiences and
communities we work with and serve has
remained undented by the challenges of
recent years. We’re fully aware that this
will be an exceptionally stressful time
for them.”
Screen Scotland said that CMI had
warned Creative Scotland at three
meetings in September that they were in
financial distress.
DanceBase in Grassmarket have also
said that “things are certainly very tough”
and they would appreciate any support
in the form of bookings or funding.By PHYLLIS STEPHEN
EDINBURGH-BASED event producers
Unique Events and Assembly Festival have been
appointed by The City of Edinburgh Council
to run the Christmas celebrations to ensure
that Santa will be coming to town this winter.
The company was appointed shortly after the
first contractor pulled out.
This year’s Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations
will run from 25 November 2022 to 3 January
2023 - five weeks of seasonal fun in the
city centre.
Festive favourites including Edinburgh’s
Christmas Wheel, the Traditional Christmas
Markets, Ice Rink and Santa Land will be back as
well as an all-new Santa Experience and a new
programme of free festive events and activities at
the Ross Bandstand.
William Burdett-Coutts of Assembly Festival
and Penny Dougherty of Unique Events said: “It
is our priority to ensure that Edinburgh’s
Christmas celebrations return in style for the
benefit of the city, our fellow residents and
visitors. While we are taking on Edinburgh’s
Christmas at very short notice, we fully
understand how important these events are for
the city and businesses who have already endured
difficult times in recent years. Celebrations will
definitely include the traditional Christmas
Markets, Ice Rink and the Christmas Wheel
alongside many of the elements that visitors
love about coming to Edinburgh city centre in
the winter.”
There will be a new classic Ice Rink and other
Christmas attractions in George Street, supported
by Essential Edinburgh. Santa Claus will be in
West Princes Street Gardens at an all-new
Santa Experience.
Traditional Christmas Markets will be in East
Princes Street Gardens as usual, with a range of
craft and food and drink stalls from near and far,
as well as rides and attractions, all set against the
backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.Edinburgh’s Christmas Wheel will offer
visitors to the city centre thrilling views of the
city. Winter Windows, in partnership with City
of Edinburgh Council, will illuminate the city
centre with original artwork by local school
children. The Santa Fun Run returns with
participants fundraising for the When You Wish
Upon a Star! Children’s Charity.
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential
Edinburgh commented “Edinburgh’s Christmas
is a hugely important event for the city centre and
all our businesses. Along with our range of
enhanced lighting along George Street, Rose
Street and in St Andrew Square a highlight is the
provision of an ice rink in the westerly block of
George Street. This has proved very popular in
recent years, and we are looking forward to
working with Unique/Assembly to make this
happen again to support footfall and visitors
during November and December.”
There is a 20% discount for EH residents.
http://www.edinburghchristmasfestival.comBEX IS OUR
NEWEST
CONTRIBUTOR
An illustrator of colour
maximalist doodles,
she specialises in
graphic, cartoon, and
children’s/colouring
book illustration. Bex
claims that she is
powered by Coke
Zero. Freelancing as
an illustrator and
graphic designer, she
works with agencies,
and small businesses.
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