It is with enormous regret that we have decided to postpone Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art 2020. This decision, following the advice from the Scottish Government, has been driven by the significant impact COVID-19 is having around the world and the predicted impact it will have in Scotland over the coming weeks and months.
Our first priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of our festival participants, artists, audiences, partners and staff. We know the postponement will be incredibly disappointing for the artists, colleagues, partners and friends who have been working tirelessly alongside the festival team to realise what would have been an extraordinary festival.
A decision like this was unimaginable only weeks ago. Making it now, although difficult, we believe gives us the best chance of protecting what makes Glasgow International unique, in the long term. Glasgow International provides a critical moment for the city’s artists, arts organisations, galleries and audiences to come together with artists, curators, galleries and audiences from all over the world.
We recognise that this is an exceptionally difficult time with implications far beyond the festival as people are forced to adapt to new and unprecedented challenges in day-to-day living. We will honour payment for existing contracts to artists and Across the City projects involved in the 2020 festival. Beyond this, we understand that many artists who rely on short term or freelance contracts will be facing particular uncertainty right now, we will continue to work with funders and the wider cultural sector to advocate for ways to support artists and the arts community in these difficult times.
The support, guidance and backing that we have received from Glasgow Life, and our core funders Creative Scotland, EventScotland and the Scottish Government and from Glasgow International’s Advisory Board at this time has been invaluable.
We are working hard on a plan to restage a festival in 2021. We will communicate details as soon as we can.
We wish everyone health, strength and hope for better times as we begin to plan for a future festival.
Glasgow International Team