Artists have the power to stand up for truth, says festival chief

Musicians and artists should challenge disinformation and cynicism in global politics by standing up for fundamental truths, the violinist Nicola Benedetti has said.

- Severin Carrell

Benedetti, the director of the Edinburgh international festival, said the arts played an essential role during periods of turmoil by showing the best of human achievement.

"We're currently caught in a bewildering swirl of truth and alternative fact and manipulated language disguised as information," she said, as she announced this year's programme, the theme of which is "the truth we seek".

Speaking after the launch, Benedetti acknowledged she was referring to the crises that have erupted since Donald Trump resumed the US presidency. "There's no point downplaying the presence of the United States [here]. Everyone is watching and there are huge tectonic shifts and enormous questions facing leadership and political leadership at the moment," she said.