A CALL has been made for festivals throughout East Lothian to be given a helping hand to ensure they return in 2021.

The county plays host to a wide variety of events, with many having been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and others, which are scheduled to take place later this year, still weighing up their options.

Fringe by the Sea was due to take place next month in North Berwick but was postponed until next year, while the organisers of the Lammermuir Festival, which is due to take place from September 11 to 21, have said they are “monitoring developments and Government guidelines closely”.

At last week’s culture questions in the Scottish Parliament, East Lothian MSP Iain Gray asked the Scottish Government how it planned to give the sector help to ensure festivals could return in 2021.

Mr Gray used his supplementary question to stress the need for state support, including funding for local festivals to help them recover from the pandemic and lockdown.

He described the county as having “a thriving arts and culture scene” and said: “Music is an important part of that scene and includes several successful local festivals.

“As well as providing important opportunities for local people to access the arts, these events also help boost tourism by bringing visitors to the county.

“However, like so many areas of life, cultural events, including music festivals, have been hit hard by the pandemic, with many cancelled or postponed over recent months.

“As we begin the recovery from the impact of the virus, I am keen to ensure that our music festivals receive state support to help them.”

Fiona Hyslop MSP, cabinet secretary for economy, fair work and culture, echoed the importance of the culture sector.

Resilience and creative hardship funds have been set up and Ms Hyslop stressed it was key that the sector “rebound strongly” from the crisis.

She said: “Creative Scotland has ensured that regularly funded organisations – many of which are involved in small local festivals – have had their funding extended for 2020 to allow them to return in 2021.

“It is also encouraging local festivals to honour contracted payments to freelance performers who were booked for 2020. Some are negotiating part payment now and part payment for 2021.

“However, as Iain Gray pointed out, not all festivals will be funded by Creative Scotland; therefore, we have to look at things in the round.”