Scotsman 200: Capital flourishes as city of festivals

To mark the 200th anniversary of The Scotsman, we are dipping into our archives to bring you a selection of some of the biggest stories of the last two centuries. This month we have recalled Scotland’s arts scene, reproducing The Scotsman’s original coverage of many of the most memorable events from the stage and screen to exhibitions, concerts and Edinburgh’s festivals. Today’s topic is Edinburgh’s festivals. The first Edinburgh International Festival of Music, Art and Drama in August and September 1947 was the result of two years of planning by a committee that was formed in 1945 with the aim of creating a new post-war identity for the capital as “the cultural resort of Europe”. The inaugural Edinburgh International Film Festival was held the same year and has become the world’s longest continually running film festival. Since its inception in 1983, the Edinburgh International Book Festival has filled Charlotte Square Gardens with a tented village of venues. The festival “family” has grown considerably over the years to include more events than there is space to do justice.