I take it the dockside area is scheduled for some expensive redevelopment that will make a lot of money for a few people who are regularly to be seen in the same wine bars as senior members of the council?

That's the way cultural politics worked in Glasgow when I was there in the 1980s.

Maybe the Arabic festival just got lucky in that they could use any space the council allocated them. A maritime festival has no option but to be near the water.