The Edinburgh International Festival director gave a performance as part of her vision to remove barriers to cultural discovery, as the festival announces free tickets for NHS workers, plus an affordable ticket scheme
The Edinburgh International Festival director and violinist Nicola Benedetti performed for staff, patients, families and volunteers at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh.
Benedetti’s performance, alongside guitarist Plínio Fernandes, brought the spirit of the festival to the hospital in an aim to remove barriers to cultural discovery as part of a series of NHS Festival Sessions, a partnership between the International Festival and NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts bringing transformative live performances directly to patients, families, staff and volunteers across healthcare settings.
The NHS Festival Sessions take place regularly year-round. Previous artists include the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker and the Philharmonia Orchestra, visiting sites such as the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and St John’s Hospital, Livingston.
Over 1,000 Edinburgh International Festival tickets will be donated for NHS staff, charity workers and low-income benefit recipients, and £10 affordable tickets will be available for every event in the festival programme. Over 2,500 free tickets for Scotland’s young musicians aged 8–18 through the Young Musician’s Pass.
Benedetti commented on her vision of accessibility: ’I believe in removing barriers to cultural discovery.
’Everyone is invited to the International Festival – that’s why half of our tickets will be sold for £30 or less, and by extending our performances into community and healthcare settings, we’re reaching people where they are, and bringing a taste of the Festival to those who may be unable to attend.’
Len McCaffer, Tonic Arts manager at NHS Lothian Charity, said: ’Our partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival through the NHS Festival Sessions is a fantastic way to bring the transformative power of music directly into our hospitals. These year-round performances are a hugely anticipated part of our participatory arts calendar, making live performances accessible for those who would otherwise be unable to attend.’
This year’s Edinburgh International Festival takes place 1 to 24 August 2025.
Photo credits: Mihaela Bodlovic.
Read: Violinist Nicola Benedetti takes up presenter role at Classic FM
Read: The best seat in the house is a bean bag: 48 hours at the Edinburgh International Festival
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