Update: 1 Mar 2023
Janet Deacon, Scarborough Borough Council head of tourism and culture, said:
“We are disappointed to announce that for personal reasons David Edmunds can no longer take up the role of festival director of The Scarborough Fair, which he was originally due to do from the beginning of March.
“While David’s decision is an unexpected set back, we are already looking into what our next steps should be to secure the necessary leadership the festival needs.
“Meanwhile the team working on the development of the fair’s ambitious and innovative creative programme continues uninterrupted.”
The exciting journey to re-establish The Scarborough Fair, a festival that will bring people together on the Yorkshire coast, attract investment, enhance Scarborough’s profile and draw curious audiences from across the local area, the region and beyond, has truly gathered pace with the appointment of its festival director.
David Edmunds, a festivals director, artistic director and producer with more than 20 years’ experience working within cultural industries worldwide, has been appointed to the prestigious role.
He will lead on the delivery of an ambitious and innovative creative programme for The Scarborough Fair, which will span three years from 2023 to 2026. He will work with local artists, communities, businesses, visiting companies and established seasons to co-design and produce the festival.
David is currently festivals director for The Arches Festivals in Worcester but will be based in Scarborough when he takes up his new role from March 2023.
His vast back catalogue of experience includes delivering a number of large-scale outdoor commissions during Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture and working as associate producer for Imove, a project involving artists throughout the UK, which was inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
