One of the most gratifying aspects of being a writer lies not only in the culmination of a book's arduous journey to publication, which marks the end of years spent in agonising contemplation of its pages, but when it enters the public sphere. Should fortune favour the writer, this is when their work is read and talked about and the words and ideas take on a life of their own.
That’s also the magic of book festivals. Of course they exist to sell books, but it’s also where writers come face to face with readers. It’s where they find out what has worked and what hasn’t, the multiple takes, confusions, interpretations and reactions. It's a terrain of clarification, creative disagreements, flattery and ad hominem attacks.
Which is one reason why the calls for the Edinburgh book festival to cut ties with its main sponsor over climate concerns is so destructive.
Over 50 authors, including Zadie Smith, Ali Smith and Gary Younge, have called on the Edinburgh International Book festival to severe ties with Baillie Gifford investment in fossil fuels. Edinburgh-based author Mikaela Loach, who appeared at the event, said organisers "must stand by their 'climate positive' commitment and drop Baillie Gifford as a sponsor.” She added: "Edinburgh International Book Festival wouldn't burn books, so why are they ok with burning the planet?"
On so many levels they are wrong.
Baillie Gifford are unusually generous and thoughtful corporate supporters. Their financial contribution to the Edinburgh Book festival, and other book festivals, is huge, and probably makes the difference between some of them taking place or not. Additionally, B&G quietly support unfashionable yet urgent causes without bragging about it - indeed, one reason its not possible to put a number on the exact figures they give, or name all the causes they support, is that as a company they do not virtue signal their philanthropy: it’s not done for the headlines but the long term consequences on the ground. I am a bit of a cynic about corporate responsibility, but these guys are the good guys.
Whilst B&G is opaque about the substantial sums they donate, it is transparent about its investments. On the specifics of the climate, the company is actively committed to reducing their exposure in the fossil fuel market – which at 2% is already significantly below the 11% average. Indeed, a larger portion of their clients’ funds is directed towards companies exclusively dedicated to developing clean energy solutions.
Edinburgh book festival is an essential part of the literary and cultural eco-system of our national life and without such financial and moral support of intellectual and cultural life, it would struggle to exist. Similar to its artistic counterparts, it is in financial difficulty. Jobs have already been axed.
The arts have always relied on corporate sponsorship as well as state support and the market - and a good thing too. Diverse funding streams infuse the arts with a vitality that nurtures innovative thought and daring experimentation. A future without corporate generous sponsorship would either mean relying on the tyranny of the box-office, or scrabbling for more state funding with their limited funds and capricious demands. If we want free thinking in the arts, diverse funding streams are essential.
A vital purpose is at risk. Book festivals, serving as gatherings for writers and the public to delve into imaginative realms and tackle pressing social questions, constitute social assets. They are part of the public sphere and pivotal for envisioning the future and essential for addressing prevailing social or political predicaments. The contraction of such spaces essential to furthering public discourse, which is happening in other ways too: the disaggregation of the media; the silencing of speech more generally, impair our ability to understand the present, tackle urgent social questions, and forge the future.
Not often I agree with you Tiffany but on this issue you are absolutely right none of us can live pure lives in an impure capitalist society and sometimes you have to accept compromises in life and in the arts. As you say Baillie Gifford have done a great job in sponsoring the arts over the years and I think should continue. So we might disagree on the Elgin Marbles but on this you are right Hugh Kerr ( MEP 1994-99) and editor Edinburgh Music Review