The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is to receive £200,000 from the Scottish Government's £6m Expo Fund, for a new initiative that will provide a platform for Scottish artists – especially dance and theatre performers – to showcase their work.

The programme, called Made In Scotland, which will launch at the 2009 Fringe festival, will also benefit from 20 per cent of the Expo Fund for the next three years.

Made In Scotland is a partnership between the Fringe festival, the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) and the Scottish Arts Council (SAC).

Jon Morgan, director of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, said: "The Fringe can open up a whole host of opportunities and it's on the doorstep for Scottish artists.

"Made In Scotland will provide financial and developmental support so Scottish dance and theatre artists can present their work in the best possible way at the Fringe and open up touring opportunities."

The programme offers a year-round programme of training, support and advice to companies that perform at the festival and will continue to support these organisation if they are offered international touring opportunities.

Lizzie Nicoll of the FST, said: "Made In Scotland is an unrivaled opportunity for FST's members to raise the profile, expand the reach and increase the international touring and co-production possibilities for their boldest and most exciting work."

The £6m Expo Fund is available to all 12 festivals in Edinburgh between 2008-9 and 2011-12, to support new productions, events or exhibitions that premiere at any of the Edinburgh Festivals.

Culture minister Linda Fabiani, said: "The Expo Fund is designed to help maintain the global competitive edge of the festivals which make a significant contribution to our economy and attract visitors from around the world."

The SAC will be allocating up to £1,308m of the Expo fund in 2008-09.