The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will donate £1 million to 13 UK military charities and arts organisations this year.
This will bringing its total charitable contributions to more than £12 million since the event began in 1950.
A sum of £775,000 will be awarded to nine Armed Services beneficiaries including ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and RAF Benevolent Fund.
As part of the Tattoo’s commitment to nurturing Scotland’s thriving art and culture landscape, funding has also been donated to two long-standing Scottish arts funds.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Youth Talent Development Fund, run in conjunction with Creative Scotland, will receive £150,000 to provide young artists with financial support to refine their talents in traditional music and dance.
In partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, the Tattoo will also donate £50,000 to the city’s Culture Project Fund which is distributed to organisations in Edinburgh to encourage more engagement from local people in the arts.
The remaining funds will be split between the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) and Royal Lyceum Theatre. £20,000 will go towards supporting the EIF in its work in showcasing Edinburgh as an international arts destination and the Royal Lyceum Theatre will receive £,000 to support the development of its Creative Pathways Programme.
Today’s announcement follows the Tattoo’s 21st consecutive sell-out year in Edinburgh this August. The Kaleidoscope showcase welcomed more than 1100 international performers and 220,000 audience members for a 100-minute showcase of military pageantry, music, dance, technical wizardry and special effects against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.
Rucelle Soutar, chief operating officer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: ‘As we reflect on another incredibly successful Tattoo season and prepare for our upcoming four performances in Sydney in October, we are thrilled to announce this financial support for the national institutions that support us and help to sustain the Tattoo and all that lies behind it.
‘As always, a strong component of this year’s donation has been awarded to organisations that will continue to support and care for veterans, as well as inspiring the next generation of musicians and dancers. We’re also passionate about engaging young people with the Armed Forces and helping to provide stability and offer a launch pad for future generations.
‘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.’
Major General (Ret’d) Martin Rutledge, chief executive of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity said: ‘ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is so grateful to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for its continued support over many years. This substantial grant enables us to continue providing support to the Army family when they need it most.
‘This may be to young serving families coping with a sudden bereavement or traumatic loss, home adaptions or funding for skills training and education. Many of our wounded soldiers will need increasing financial assistance for decades to come and, with help from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, we will be there to help them every step of the way.’
James Strong, development executive at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, added: ‘Our Creative Learning Team is particularly delighted that The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has chosen to continue their support of this inspiring project. Our plans for this year are well underway and we believe “An Edinburgh Christmas Carol” will provide a unique and stimulating launch pad for all our participants.’
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. These donations are made from the financial surplus of the organisation’s business accomplishments throughout the year.
The Armed Services beneficiaries also include: Army in Scotland Trust, Army Piping Committee, 51 Infantry Brigade Welfare Fund, Edinburgh Garrison Welfare Fund, Scottish National War Memorial and the Scottish Amenities Fund.
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