The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo announce £1 Million donation to UK charities

Following the success of its annual August extravaganza, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has announced today (10 September 2018) that it will donate £1 million to 13 UK-based charitable military organisations and arts bodies this year. The donation brings the total donated by the military spectacle to over £11 million since the event began in 1950.  

A world showcase event, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo prides itself on delivering under the three guiding pillars of: Military Entertainment, Influence and Social Contribution. Supporting the latter, since 2016 the Tattoo has committed to donating £1 million every year going forward.

The majority of the funds (£775,000) will go to Armed Services beneficiaries including: The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Scottish Amenities Fund, ABF The Soldier’s Charity, Army in Scotland Trust, Army Piping Committee, 51 Infantry Brigade Welfare Fund, Edinburgh Garrison Welfare Fund, RAF Benevolent Fund, and Scottish National War Memorial.

Arts organisations will benefit from the remainder of the funds, including the Edinburgh International Festival with a donation of £20,000 and the Royal Lyceum Theatre which will collect £5,000 to increase engagement in Scotland’s globally-renowned cultural and arts scene.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Youth Talent Development Fund run in conjunction with Creative Scotland will receive £150,000 to provide young artists in Scotland with the opportunity to develop their skills in the realms of traditional music and dance such as piping, drumming, highland dancing and fiddle playing. The fund allows artists to create new, innovative work for showcase and increase accessibility across traditional Scottish arts. Details for applying for this fund will be announced in the autumn.

The Tattoo will once again be partnering with The City of Edinburgh Council to promote the Access to Arts and Culture Project fund. The Tattoo is donating £50,000 to a fund of £97,700, which will be given to organisations within the city of Edinburgh to undertake projects that extend the reach of arts and cultural engagement, helping overcome geographic, financial and social barriers to accessing activity in the arts and culture.

Special focus will be given to projects which offer participatory activities and workshops; exhibitions or performances in new spaces; and collaborative projects between artists and members of local communities. The fund was developed on the back of the city’s Culture Plan which launched last year. Applications open today (Monday, 10 September) and will close on Wednesday 10 October 2018 at 12 noon.Today’s news comes on the back

of the 2018 show’s 20^th consecutive sell-out year in Edinburgh. This year’s ‘The Sky’s the Limit’ showcase welcomed more than 1,200 international performers and 220,000 audience members to watch a 100-minute showcase of military pageantry, music, dance, technical wizardry and special effects in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.

Rucelle Soutar, Head of Finance for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said: “Our core purpose is to sustain world-class shows in Edinburgh and abroad but underlying this is a passionate desire to support our national institutions and society more generally.  In doing this, we want to help provide stability and offer a launch pad for future generations.  So, we are beyond thrilled to mark our third consecutive £1 million donations in support for military, veterans and the arts.

“A strong component of this year’s donation has been awarded to organisations that will continue to engage people, especially young people, with the Armed Forces; support and care for veterans as well as inspiring the next generation of musicians and dancers.  All of this will help to sustain the Tattoo and all that lies behind.

“The Tattoo’s impact reaches far beyond its annual show and it is a great privilege to be able to support such fantastic projects that will make a real difference to people. We’re very much looking forward to seeing the outcomes of the donations granted this year."

Councillor Donald Wilson, Convener of Culture and Communities at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo again in support of Edinburgh’s creative and cultural life. The Tattoo plays a hugely important role in the city, promoting culture to the world and bringing international talent to perform at Edinburgh Castle each August.

 “Last year’s pilot enabled us to work with the Tattoo to give something back to Edinburgh’s artistic community. We were able to fund 10 organisations and the feedback from those who benefitted has been tremendous. We look forward to building on that work and offering communities across Edinburgh greater opportunities to engage with high quality artistic work.”  

Mandy Lindley of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity said: “We are truly grateful for the donation from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo; it enables RNRMC to support our sailors, marines, veterans and their families whatever their needs. From family activities and marking homecomings to providing residential care for our older veterans, this donation will help us in so many ways.”

Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, said: “We are enormously grateful to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for its incredible generosity and enduring support to The Soldiers’ Charity. The significant donation enables us to continue to help our soldiers, veterans and their families in time of need.”

Air Officer Scotland, Air Vice-Marshal Ross Paterson, said: "I am again thrilled and delighted to see the support of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo towards our RAF Family and those in need. The extraordinarily generous donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund, following the 2018 show, will make a huge difference to the lives of so many of our people, of all ages, and I am so grateful for their kind support.

“This year’s Tattoo was a truly exceptional show, comprising musical talent from across the world. In the year that the Royal Air Force also celebrates its Centenary, we were also hugely privileged to lead the Tattoo with the theme, “The Sky’s the Limit” and Scotland’s Year of Young People – seeking to inspire all young people to aim for the stars. The RAF has an excellent working relationship with the Tattoo organisers and we continue to be delighted to support this prestigious and world class event in the Nation’s capital."