According to the Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the festival’s recovery could take up to five years.
Shona McCarthy reiterates the need for more assistance for artists, venues, and promoters and aid to help them recover faster in the coming years.
McCarthy said: “The Fringe is not publicly funded and the Fringe Society has had to depend on a loan for our survival. We’re not just going to bounce through this unscathed. We’re talking about a three-five year recovery.”
“The Fringe is completely dependent on earned income. The Fringe has to be commercial at its heart as that is the only way to cover costs – whether you’re an artist, a venue or the Fringe Society, the entire ecosystem is dependent on washing its own face.”