Organisers to seek government and private money
By Edd McCracken, Arts Correspondent

THE Edinburgh Military Tattoo's future is in doubt unless it raises £15 million for a new grandstand over the next few years, and it is looking to the public, businesses and the government for help.

According to organisers, the current structure, which holds 8700 people and dates from 1975, is too cramped and cumbersome and needs to be "dragged into the 21st century".

As the Tattoo revealed last week it has sold out for the 10th year running, chief executive Major-General Euan Loudon said: "If all this is to continue into the 21st century we need a new stand."

"From a number of points of view it is reaching the end of its natural life," he added. "The seats are pretty small and cramped. Some of the facilities up on the esplanade could do with being dragged into the 21st century. We've been trying to raise money, because we're not sitting on a huge pot of cash here."

The annual display of military pageantry has already secured £3m of funding from Edinburgh City Council and plans to make up the rest through fund-raising, private sponsorship and asking Holyrood for money.

"We have never been for public funding before in 60 years, and it would be nice to think that a small, enterprising investment now would secure the future," said Loudon. "Sitting where I'm sitting, and I know it's a parochial view, a little investment is going to help secure another quarter of a century's worth of economic impact."

An economic appraisal by Festivals Edinburgh and Scottish Enterprise revealed that the Tattoo brings between £50m and £80m a year into Scotland. Each Tattoo visitor spends around £250, and the images beamed around the world are worth £15m in advertising.

Last year Scottish Enterprise was rumoured to be contributing several million pounds to the project. Since then, however, its involvement has been scaled back to providing advice and support.

A spokesperson from Scottish Enterprise said: "We are working closely with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo team to explore a number of funding options that will allow them to deliver their plans for the stand infrastructure. These options include sponsorship and commercialisation opportunities."

The new stand would have the same capacity, but the seats would be 35% bigger. Loudon added that it could be constructed in three weeks, rather than the present month, which would enable other festivals to use the structure. It is hoped the new stand will be operational for the 2011 Tattoo.

Jeremy Purvis, the Liberal Democrats' culture spokesperson, said:"The Tattoo is very much a signature event for Scotland," he said. "It attracts a huge amount of international interest. The role government can play is match-fund private input. The benefits justify the government being involved."

Ted Brocklebank, Conservative MSP and party spokesman on culture, said he also supported the Tattoo's appeal to the government. "The Tattoo is an extremely worthwhile event," he said. "It does a tremendous job promoting Scotland."

The Scottish government remained cagey about its involvement. A spokesman said: "Senior government officials plan to meet representatives of the Tattoo to discuss the grandstand issue."

Loudon also revealed that next year's Tattoo will be themed around Robert Burns and the Enlightenment.