The authority is seeking a contractor to organise “night-time outdoor public projection mappings” in a bid to “enhance civic pride”. The art installations are being billed as the “tentpole activity” of celebrations to mark nine centuries since Edinburgh was granted royal burgh status. Plans to spend £500k of taxpayers’ cash to commemorate the milestone amid rising poverty have sparked a backlash from opposition councillors in the City Chambers.
As the sum was included in a budget passed by Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative members in February the SNP group branded the move “shameful” while services were being cut. And the Greens have played down the importance of ‘Edinburgh 900′ which they described as simply an “administrative event” with little historical significance. Council leader Cammy Day, Labour, defended the programme of events being organised, telling councillors it was the “right thing to do for a city as historic as Edinburgh”.
He said at the time the council would seek corporate sponsors “to replace some of that [funding] if we can”. However, it has since emerged a £250k bid to the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund to help offset the costs has been rejected. At a recent council meeting, the Greens’ Dan Heap raised concerns over money being spent on outdoor projections.
While he said his group supported moves to use some of the £500k set aside for grants for community groups to arrange events, he added they “took issue” w.
