Edinburgh International Book Festival ends 20-year partnership with Baillie Gifford amid 'protest threat'

The Edinburgh International Book Festival has ended its 20-year partnership with sponsors Baillie Gifford, ten weeks before the event begins.

The literary festival announced the decision after the Hay Festival in Wales made the same move last week with regards to its sponsorship from the investment company based in Edinburgh.

Baillie Gifford, who have supported the festival since 2004, had been accused of investing in “companies who make money from fossil fuels”.

At last year’s event, activists and authors staged a walkout in protest against the firm, with social activist Greta Thunberg cancelling her appearance at the festival due to its links with Baillie Gifford.

Chairman of the festival Allan Little said they could not deliver a “safe and sustainable festival” in August under “constant threat of disruption from activists.”

He said: “Our team cannot be expected to deliver a safe and sustainable festival this August under the constant threat of disruption from activists.

“This was a pragmatic response to that reality.

“Funding for the arts is now in a perilous position and we should all be clear that without the support of our partners and donors, the future of festivals like ours – and all of the benefits these events bring to authors and readers alike – is in jeopardy.

“We are a charity that provides an important platform for authors and readers of all views and political opinions to agree, disagree, challenge, and provoke.

At last year's event, activists and authors staged a walkout in protest against the firm. — At last year’s event, activists and authors staged a walkout in protest against the firm. Edinburgh International Book Festival

“Book festivals around the world are forums in which rigorous, intelligent debate can take place.

“Our festival should be a place where progressive and nuanced discussion can happen in a safe and respectful space.

“Indeed, our programme this year is designed to give a voice to those directly affected by conflict and those engaged at the most senior levels in its resolution.

“We will explore the real challenges involved in transition, green tech and climate finance, misinformation and the need for new economic models.

“We are determined to have those debates and to have them out in the open, but we need everyone to come to the table.

“We have made several invitations to Fossil Free Books, and other groups, to attend this year’s festival and regret that they have not responded to those offers.”

The festival is due to run from August 10 to 25 with a full programme to be announced next Tuesday.

Jenny Niven, chief executive of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “It is with great regret that our board of trustees and Baillie Gifford have collectively agreed to end our partnership.

“We are hugely grateful to the firm for its considerable support over two decades, including through some challenging times for the festival, and we are proud of what we’ve achieved together during that time.

“The pressure on our team has simply become intolerable.

“We have a major global festival starting in ten weeks’ time and we need to focus all of our efforts and energy on delivering a safe and successful event for our audiences.

“Undermining the long-term future of charitable organisations such as book festivals is not the right way to bring about change.

“It diminishes the voices of those who feel strongly about these complex issues, and it will be infinitely harder to build and sustain well-funded cultural institutions in the future than it is to put them out of business today.

“We speak to all our supporters about these complex issues and continue to believe that Baillie Gifford is part of the solution in transitioning towards a more sustainable world and that the firm operates in line with our Ethical Fundraising policy.”

The decision comes following the Hay Festival in Wales making the same move last week PA Ready

Nick Thomas, partner at Baillie Gifford, said: “Our collaboration with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, spanning decades, was rooted in our shared interest in making Edinburgh a thriving and culturally vibrant place to live and work.

“In recent years we have been proud to support the schools’ and children’s programmes, providing free books and creating opportunities for young readers to meet authors.

“The activists’ anonymous campaign of coercion and misinformation has put intolerable pressure on authors and the festival community.

“We step back with the hope that the festival will thrive this year and into the future. We hold the activists squarely responsible for the inhibiting effect their action will have on funding for the arts in this country.

“Baillie Gifford is a long-term investor with high ethical standards and a complete focus on doing what is right by our clients.

“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is offensively misleading.

“Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, NVIDIA, and Meta.

“Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose.

“Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.

“Nor is Baillie Gifford a significant fossil fuel investor.

“Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.

“We remain committed to contributing positively to our community through philanthropic support.”