Arts diary: Should the Tattoo celebrate US military and the need for book nerds
The Tattoo programme was finalised “long before” the US conflict with Iran
It is perhaps just an unfortunate result of the long lead any major festival has to have on planning its programme, but it does seem to be bad timing that the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has a focus on a US military band this year, just as the performers' close colleagues are engaged in a controversial conflict in the Middle East.
The programme, unveiled in the annual press showcase on Tuesday, will see the United States Army Field Band perform at this year's event, with a particular focus on celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.
Read more: Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo focus on US army band branded 'out of step' with public opinion
Stop The War Scotland believes that celebrating the US military in any way while war is raging in Iran is "out of step" with public opinion on a conflict which even Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared is "not our war".
The Tattoo has defended its stance by saying that it brings countries together at a time when that is needed most - and argued the programme was finalised “long before” the conflict with Iran began.
The problem is that the Tattoo's raison d'etre lies uncomfortably on the line between military showcase and arts entertainment. For many people, it is just a show, but behind the scenes, it is more connected to foreign policy strategy than most realise.
Although insisting that the organisation is "politically agnostic", chief executive Jason Barrett admitted openly to me yesterday that the Tattoo has become a tool for "soft diplomacy", actively holding discussions with the Ministry of Defence and brokering discussions between different countries' military organisations, something that I have never heard the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, or the Edinburgh Festival Fringe lay claim to.
It's a tricky one.
Save the book nerds
Edinburgh International Book Festival last week launched its schools programme, in a year when research published by the National Literacy Trust revealed that less than a third of Scottish schoolchildren aged eight to 18 say they enjoy reading. Meanwhile, only one in six read daily. As someone who was once a child who wandered around with a book constantly trailing from her hand like other kids have security blankets, this horrifies me.
The programme, which includes authors from Jacqueline Wilson to Manjeet Mann, gives schools the opportunity to attend author events both in person and online, while free books are handed out to every pupil.
Funding for the schools programme was one of the services which came under threat after the book festival was forced to give up its Baillie Gifford sponsorship following a backlash from activists. It's good to see it's surviving, especially now.
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