Publisher hit by 'economic difficulties in the Scottish arts'

Scottish arts outlets The Skinny and Fest are to close down.

The publishers of the magazines – significant players at the Edinburgh Fringe as well as offering year-round cultural coverage – have announced that they are ceasing operations, telling contributors that they will be going into liquidation.

The Skinny was founded in 2005 as a free Edinburgh and Glasgow listings magazine before expanding to cover the rest of Scotland, while Fest started in 2002.

They are published by the community interest company Radge Media, which will also be shutting down its good magazine Gnaw.

September’s issue of The Skinny will be its last.

A statement on its website said: ‘We are devastated that our work has come to such a sudden end. 

‘We have not been immune to the economic difficulties in the Scottish arts and despite our very best efforts, funding pressures across the sector, rising costs and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis have contributed to an increasingly challenging situation. 

‘The Skinny is a key asset to Scottish cultural life, but it was produced by a small team with all the challenges that entails. We did the best we could with the resources at our disposal, and we can only apologise to our readers, colleagues and advertisers for making such a sudden exit, but we have been unable to find a way to continue the work at this time.’

Thanking contributors, readers and the Scottish cultural scene that inspired it, the magazine’s creators added: ‘The closure of this business does nothing to change our belief in the need for a vibrant Scottish media that connects with our communities, and our faith in print as a vehicle to share new stories with audiences.

‘Even in dark times, there is still a wealth of vibrant, creative and exciting art being created across Scotland, and dozens of scenes and movements worth championing. That drive and spirit has inspired and invigorated us at The Skinny so many times over the years – let’s all do what we can to help that continue.’

The latest accounts for Radge Media lodged at Companies House only go up to March 2025, when it showed the business was £63,000 in the red. 

Contributors have been told they will not be paid for outstanding invoices – likely to include a great many reviews from the Fringe.

In an email to journalists, editor-in-chief Rosamund West said: ‘The Skinny/ Fest is closing, and Radge Media CIC intends to enter into liquidation. I know this news will come as a shock, and I am so sorry that our work has come to an end in this way.’

She insisted that ‘we believed that the business was viable upon reviewing our position at the end of August and had begun a process of restructuring to reduce our costs, but when a key piece of potential funding fell through, the situation changed dramatically.

‘We were advised to speak to an insolvency practitioner, who ultimately advised us that it was in the best interests of everyone to wind up the business as soon as possible and maximise the protections for all involved.

‘I know that some of you will be waiting for payment of invoices already submitted: we have been told that we cannot make any further payments at this time, and I truly apologise for the situation this places you in.’

She added that the liquidators are making a list of creditors, which will include the unpaid contributors. Any assets still in the company are typically split between those owed money, even if they only end up getting a small percentage of what’s owed.

Published: 10 Sep 2026