IT was last November that Fergus Linehan, director of the Edinburgh International Festival, publicly worried about the 'poisonous' rhetoric of Brexit, and wondered aloud whether that would damage the standing and practical management of the festivals in Scotland's capital.

Now, at the height of the 70th festival and with the old city ringing to the sound of new music, comedy, drama, dance and more across the venues of the EIF, the Fringe and the book festival, he is lending his name to an open letter urging the government to not undermine the work of an important international cultural organisation, in this case the British Council.

The British Council is the UK's key overseas cultural organisation. As well as fostering links between artists and cultural bodies - like the festivals - in other countries, it organises a host of educational services. And post-Brexit, Linehan and other key figures now argue, it is needed more than ever.

The fear is that, with the UK's future role on the world stage currently an (shall we say) ambiguous one, the 'soft power' and cultural connections wielded and utilised by the Council is needed in developed, European and western countries just as much as it is needed in the rest of the world.

The Council's work can be seen at this year's festival: its showcase this year features three Welsh theatre productions - these productions are now on show to the throng of the festivals, and given a precious chance to be seen by international promoters.

The open letter too, is a sign, that there is a fear in the highest reaches of the cultural establishment of a looming disconnection from, and disengagement from, the world, prompted by the shock of Brexit and its potentially myopic consequences. It is a sign of the times.