THE EDINBURGH Festival Fringe Society and Lothian have partnered to launch the 2019 Fringe Days Out scheme.
The new scheme will provide Fringe vouchers and Lothian bus tickets to community groups and charities across Edinburgh to those who might not have experienced the Fringe before and will ensure that the path is made easy for groups and individuals to attend.
The 2019 initiative was launched on 1 May at community arts centre Out of the Blue, one of the scheme’s participating charities which works to provide affordable spaces, resources, projects and opportunities for the residents of Edinburgh to be creative
31 community groups and charities will participate in the initiative including Sikh Sanjog, Pilmeny Youth, Lothian Autistic Society, WHALE Arts, Contact the Elderly, SCOREscotland, Dads Rock and Capability Scotland.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “I am thrilled to announce the continuation of our Fringe Days Out initiative today and see new community groups and charities joining the scheme.
“At the heart of the Fringe is the idea that everyone is welcome and that the arts are for the many not the few. Alongside our 31 partners, we are very proud that Fringe Days Out has offered thousands of people from across the city the chance to experience the Fringe for the very first time, on their terms.”
At the launch, the society also announced that an extra £10,000 of ticket and bus vouchers will be added to the Fringe Days Out scheme this year, enabling up to 700 more people to access the Fringe.
Staff and volunteers from each of the 31 charities and community groups were invited to the launch event, which featured workshops on how to make the most out of the Fringe.
Guests were also treated to a performance from Ritti Soncco, an aerial silks performer who trains at Out of the Blue.
Gaynor Marshall, Communications Director for Lothian, said: “Lothian is proud to be a part of the community and we are delighted to be partnering with Edinburgh Festival Fringe to support Fringe Days Out again this year.
“This joint project will allow families the opportunity to enjoy all the Fringe has to offer with free travel to and from festival venues across our city.”
