A ROW has blown up between Fringe promoters and funders of the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF).
The operators of The Stand Comedy Club suggested St Andrews Square in the capital was chosen as the venue for the opening of the Festival because it is home to Standard Life’s new headquarters. Fringe and jazz festival shows were ousted before the free EIF event, Bloom, which is sponsored by Standard Life.
A spokeswoman for the Fringe Society said: “The loss of public footfall in that part of Edinburgh would be really felt by the Fringe venues around the square.”
Kenny O’Brien, director of The Stand, suggested the event was more about showcasing the new headquarters of Standard Life. A spokeswoman for Standard Life said: “This event ... doesn’t have a major impact on the use of the square.”
EIF director Fergus Linehan said: “This event is not about the EIF, it is about the festival city. It is about the family of festivals.”
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