AN annual festival which was launched to celebrate the life of iconic Scottish writer Robert Burns has been scrapped.
Burns & Beyond was first held across six days in Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns in January 2019 but has now been cancelled due to a collapse in funding.
The festival has failed to secure the backing of the Scottish Government while city-centre business bosses also withdrew support.
It made use of a range of venues including Greyfriars Kirk and St Giles’ Cathedral.
The city council was the only remaining backer of the event, with Burns events that are being independently organised, such as those at the National Museum and National Gallery of Scotland, to be promoted.
A spokesman for the festival said: “We are deeply saddened that Burns & Beyond is unable to deliver a programme of live events this year.
“Since the inaugural event, we have presented some of Scotland’s leading musicians, singer-songwriters and poets to perform at our celebration of the Bard.
“We will continue discussions with funding partners and hope to return to a live-events programme next year.
“There are wonderful Burns suppers, ceilidhs and events taking place throughout the city. We encourage people to embrace these.”
It comes following the news that Burns has been dropped as a standalone author for pupils studying Higher English.
He can now only be studied as part of an anthology of writers.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “As set out in our programme for government, we intend to review the way the culture sector is supported, and ensure the £34 million increase for culture in the draft 2025-26 Budget delivers for Scotland.”
