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Fringe chief rejects elitism charge

"You have to find ways to persuade whole communities that they are welcome here in the centre," said the promoter Richard Demarco.

"The Festival cannot go on ignoring the fact that a vast number of Edinburgh’s citizenry live so far from the centre, that emotionally, intellectually and geographically they may as well be in Glasgow."

Mr Demarco was supported by the actor Tam Dean Burn and the writer Kevin Williamson. "The Fringe is highly successful festival, it isn’t going to go away, but it needs to open up," said Dean Burn.

"This isn’t an argument about elitism, but about access."

Williamson said that many people from Edinburgh’s housing estates felt uneasy about attending unfamiliar venues such as the Traverse Theatre or the Usher Hall, and more should be done to make the most of community venues.

They were speaking at a People’s Festival debate, organised by the Scottish Socialist MSP, Colin Fox. The People’s Festival has been established to take arts events to housing schemes far from the big city-centre venues. The Scotsman

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Friday, August 15, 2003

People's Festival Debate