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Dateline: 24th February, 2005
A Crunch Year for the Fringe The details of the Edinburgh Fringe's economic contribution to Edinburgh and Scotland are contained in the 2004 Annual Report for the festival launched today. This year the festival was bigger than ever before selling over 1.25 million tickets for over 1700 shows. The Fringe contributed over £75 million to Scotland's economy in 2004, £70 million of which was in the local Edinburgh economy. Despite these staggering figures Fringe Director Paul Gudgin believes that 2005 is a crunch year in the event's 57 year history. He commented: "Edinburgh now knows what it has to lose. With a report recently commissioned on whether we can stay competitive it's time for the Executive and the City Council to decide whether they are going to back this cultural and economic wonder or whether they'll wait until a crisis hits and attempt to bail the Fringe out when it may be too late." Fringe Developments for 2004The report also champions new Fringe initiatives for 2004. For the first time in its 57 year history the Fringe has bought and owns it's very own Press and Performers Centre. The Centre facilitated over 2000 journalists, 1000 promoters and over 15000 performers in its first year. Fringe innovations were not confined to performers and the press as the public were treated to a new booking facility in Princes St Gardens. The Morse Fringe E-ticket Tent enabled bookers to book tickets online and collect them onsite avoiding the ever increasing queues at the Fringe Box Office on the Royal Mile. With the completion of the National Galleries Playfair Project and the opening of the new Weston Link, the Fringe was able to relaunch performances on the Mound putting more shows on Edinburgh's streets. Paul Gudgin Fringe Director added, "With over £70 million created for the local economy on a subsidy of £65,000, it's hardly surprising that cities throughout the UK and worldwide are keen to replicate the Fringe Effect. "The difference, however, is that they are willing to put their hands in their pockets". >> Fringe
2004 Facts Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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