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Expo funding for Making It programme announced

The Scottish Government is to champion the appliance of science with £100,000 funding for the Edinburgh’s International Science Festival’s Making It programme from the Edinburgh Festivals Expo fund.

The announcement was made by Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop as she attended the official launch of this year’s Edinburgh International Science Festival programme at the National Museum of Scotland.

Ms Hyslop said:

“The Edinburgh International Science Festival does a fantastic job of highlighting the important link between science and culture in an imaginative and engaging manner - and this year’s Making It programme epitomises this approach.

“Through workshops, interactive exhibits and demonstrations, Making It will open up the world of science to young people and inspire them about the possibilities of a career in science and the arts. It will also help people of all ages understand more about the world around them.

“This government is committed to supporting and enhancing involvement in science, and I am proud that the 2014 festival will continue to benefit from Scottish Government support via the Expo Fund.”

Amanda Tyndall, Deputy Director of the Edinburgh International Science Festival, said:

“This year’s Science Festival will see hundreds of the best and brightest minds in science and technology gather in Edinburgh to debate and celebrate some of the biggest and sometimes controversial ideas in science.

“For two weeks, the city is the perfect melting pot for discussion as we explore the ideas that place science smack-bang at the centre of all of our lives.”

Notes to editors

The 2014 Edinburgh International Science Festival theme is Science: At the Heart of Things and aims to explore the vital role of science to all aspects of our lives through a vibrant and varied programme of events, exhibitions and happenings. Ranging from family workshops and shows to thought-provoking discussions and debates.

The 2014 Edinburgh International Science Festival Expo-funded project is entitled Making It and is a two week-long celebration of maker culture, highlighting the ever-increasing popularity of accessible, hackable technologies and the rise of DIY science. Making It events offer the whole family the chance to explore maker culture; from demonstrations and interactive exhibits, to workshops. http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/whats-on

The Scottish Government will provide a total of £2.25million in Expo Funding to Edinburgh’s 12 festivals this year.

The Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund has provided £12 million from 2008-09 to 2013-14, supporting the costs of new productions, events or exhibitions which involve Scottish-based participants and are premiered at any of the 12 Edinburgh Festivals.

The Fund was established in 2007 to help maintain the global competitive edge of the festivals, to increase funding available to Scottish-based artists and practitioners and to encourage creative partnerships.

Further projects across Edinburgh’s other Festivals will be announced in the coming months.