ROLE: Executive Assistant

FESTIVAL: www.pittsburghfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

BIO:

Alexandra Morar graduated from Waynesburg University with a B.A. in History and Political Science. She puts her college degree into practice by serving as Women\'s Director at a summer camp to teaching kids about the Lord and putting them to sleep with history and legal case stories (seriously, my \riveting\" tales do wonders). When she is not teaching

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

I believe the Fringe matters because it helps keep theater alive. The theater world can be very discouraging, as most people enjoy entertainment, but do not support it as a career option. By having fringes, individual actors can gather together and support one another. This boosts morale and opens up doors for networking as well.

ROLE: Artistic Director

ORGANISATION: In the making. See below.

ABOUT ORGANISATION:

Planning to create a unique arts festival in a small town in China (currently considering Fuzhou or Quanzhou) by uniting theatrical resources from various countries.

BIO:

Artistic Director of Intercultural Connections Initiative, co-organizer of IDEA 2024.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

 I am gradually seeking something more universally meaningful with a wider impact, which led me to theater festivals. The most universally connected aspect of theater is the fringe. It creates a temporary culture, allowing everyone to imagine an ideal world and contemplate possibilities for change in the real world. The fringe is a platform that fosters cross-cultural exchanges, sparks creativity, and encourages collaboration, allowing art to transcend regional and linguistic boundaries. It shifts our focus from the minutiae of daily life to a broader perspective, helping us perceive a sense of global unity and reminding us of a fundamental truth—we all live on the same planet.

ROLE: Festival Manager

FESTIVAL: www.oslofringe.no

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Oslo Fringe is run and hosted at SALT in Oslo. A festival hub with 6 stages. Oslo Fringe is focused on forging a strong local free artist field - and helping to establish the frie field in Oslo. We also have around 10 international companies to exchange and be inspire by. We have a high focus on the artistic community, and creating long lasting relations.

BIO:

Amanda Tunsberg is a trained physical actress and clown, working with programming at the venue SALT Art & music in Oslo, and curating the Fringe festival together with Sjur Marqvardsen ++. She is also the festival programmer of Norway Clown Festival and working with producing theatre and film.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

Theres just nothing like it. Fringe creates work!!!!!

ROLE: Artist Liaison

FESTIVAL: www.minnesotafringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Minnesota Fringe connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences by creating open, supportive forums for diverse artistic expression. Fringe programs and platforms empower artists across the artistic spectrum to take creative risks, expand their notions of the performing arts, and engage a wide variety of Minnesotans drawn by a multitude of genres and themes. We throw theater doors wide open for performers and patrons alike, cultivating a rich performing arts community in the process.

BIO:

Amber is the Artist Liaison at Minnesota Fringe and an independent theatermaker in her own right. As founding member of The Winding Sheet Outfit, she also produces, directs, and performs in her own shows.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

I believe the Fringe matters because it helps keep theater alive. The theater world can be very discouraging, as most people enjoy entertainment, but do not support it as a career option. By having fringes, individual actors can gather together and support one another. This boosts morale and opens up doors for networking as well.

ROLE: Executive and Artistic Director

FESTIVAL: www.montrealfringe.ca

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

MainLine Theatre is a multidisciplinary organization that exists to support the development of emerging, mid-career and professional artists. MainLine favours artistic practice and models of production centred around the democratization of artistic creation by reducing accessibility barriers faced by artists and audiences. It supports artists through its leadership in the community and by providing opportunities for presentation, professional development and affordable space availability. MainLine acts as a catalyst and a jumping point into the industry for hundreds of artists annually through its various activities such as the production of the Montreal Fringe Festival and Bouge d’ici.

BIO:

Amy Blackmore is the Executive and Artistic Director of MainLine Theatre, the Montreal Fringe Festival and the Bouge d’ici Dance Festival. An artist and META-nominated (Montreal English Theatre Awards) choreographer, her recent projects include direction of Kenny Streule’s Malunderstood, Oren Safdie’s Gratitude and MainLine Theatre’s Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show. Her cultural collaborations include the visioning of the Fringe World Congress (2016) which garnered MainLine a nomination to the prestigious Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal and the chairing of the Quebec Drama Federation Congress Shaping the Future of English Theatre in Quebec (2018). Amy was a finalist for the Montreal Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Young Cultural Entrepreneur Award (2019) and a leadership fellow at the Business/Arts Canadian Arts Summit (2019). With over 15 years of grant jury experience, she works with Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal (PWM) and the English Language Arts Network (ELAN) as a grant consultant. Current President of CAFF.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

Fringe will make the world a better place.

ROLE: Director

FESTIVAL: Fringe Hong Kong

WEB: www.amy-sze.com

Fringe Hong Kong is a festival in development that aims to bring together audiences and artists to present a bold statement about the diversity of live art in the city, support artists in developing their work in an international context, and bring high-quality international fringe performances to Hong Kong. We are currently in an initial development phase and hope to launch our first edition in late 2025/early 2026.

BIO:

Amy is a theatremaker and producer born and raised in Hong Kong, currently based in London and Hong Kong. Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Management from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and, more recently, an MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, she endeavours to present stories of political struggle and immigration and explore the cultural identity of Hong Kong through multidisciplinary art forms. Amy has previously worked with Pants Theatre Production (HK), French May Arts Festival (HK), Papergang Theatre (London), and Max Percy + Friends (London).

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

After watching and participating in several Fringe festivals in the UK and Sweden, I think a fringe festival is where artists and audiences connect and create a drive to create better art and keep telling stories. A festival brings together these people to make connections, not just people doing individual productions. Ideas emerge and connect, bringing together bigger and stronger communities despite limited funds.

ROLE: Producer

FESTIVAL: www.oslofringe.no

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Oslo Fringe is run and hosted at SALT in Oslo, a festival hub with 6 stages. It is focused on forging a strong local free artist field and helping to establish the free field in Oslo. We also have around 10 international companies to exchange and inspire. We have a high focus on the artistic community and creating long-lasting relations.

BIO:

André Olsen Lassemo (b. 1992) is a Norwegian actor, playwright, and producer. He is from Kristiansand, but has been living in Oslo since 2017. He received his education in England, studying acting at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and East 15 Acting School. His performing career has been diverse in both form and content. Since completing his education, he has participated in over 40 productions in theater, film, and TV. He has portrayed characters such as Police Chief Bastian in \Kardemomme by\".

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

CHECK FOR COPY

ROLE: Festival Director

FESTIVAL: www.rvkfringe.is

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

RVK Fringe is a seven-day festival that happens in the month of June, with around ten venues and around 100 shows throughout the week. The festival consists of comedy, theatre, music, burlesque, drag and circus, with late-night events/parties making it a vibrant and energetic festival. We are often looking for ambitious, innovative and engaging performances of all kinds. We are part of the Baltic Nordic Fringe Network, with our applications opening up around November and closing in January.

BIO:

Andrew is a veteran award-winning Fringe artist who has performed worldwide. He has regularly produced, directed, and performed at the Edinburgh Fringe for ten years. Winning ‘Rising Star’, ‘Fringe of the Fringe’ & ‘Audience Choice’ awards at the RVK Fringe Festival for his solo and character work; notably, his alter ego “Linda”. Trained in acting for stage and screen in Edinburgh, as well as clown from The Performer’s Playground in Manchester, Andrew is a versatile and skilled performer.

As an integral part of the Icelandic comedy scene, he’s fostered healthy relationships with local venues & artists through the regular programming of his much-loved performances: “Alternative Assembly” and “Linda’s Freak Show”.

Andrew can’t wait to bring his robust network and years of experience to help nurture and expand the existing Reykjavík Fringe community. The RVK Fringe has been integral to his professional and personal life for five years and will continue to be so.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is at the forefront of worldwide innovation and brilliance within live performances of all genres. It is one of the last places that can permit artists to truly create and grow without the clawing nature of \'grind\' mentality for artistic work. We live in an extraordinary and desperate time for many people worldwide, and Fringe festivals can give those people freedom that may not be available elsewhere.

ROLE: CEO and Co-Owner TLNA    

ORGANISATION: wwwtysers.com/tyserslive

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION:

Tysers Live is a global division of Tysers Insurance Brokers dedicated to servicing the needs of the global entertainment industry. Our offerings include Music, Theatre, Live Events, Media and film, and Advertising and commercials. We bring together some of the world’s most passionate, knowledgeable, and skilled risk and speciality insurance professionals to manage the many issues facing our clients today.

Our Theatre team comprises industry experts who cover all areas of the sector and provide specialist insurance covering various events across the entertainment world; clients include fringe festivals, theatres, producers, artists, and live events. For more information visit tysers.com/tyserslive

BIO:

As the CEO and Co-Owner of Tysers Live North America, I oversee the strategic vision and development of our Sport, Entertainment, and Media insurance brokerage. With nearly two decades of experience in Risk Management, specializing in Sport, Entertainment, and Media insurance since 2005, I bring a wealth of expertise to our clients.

My background as a musician fuels my passion for supporting artists in building financially responsible careers. I am committed to sharing my knowledge of Risk Management within the Entertainment Industry and am actively engaged in fostering global relationships that benefit the arts sector. This year, I am honoured to attend the World Fringe, where I aim to contribute to the industry’s growth and sustainability.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

I believe that Performing Arts are the backbone of culture and society. It's imperative that we continue to support creative talents and provide a safe space for performing all over the world. Fringe is providing a platform for just that, and the community support around the arts gives hope to generations of talents who want to perform. 

ROLE: Executive Director

FESTIVAL: www.denverfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Denver Fringe Festival supports bold, original arts and diverse artistic voices across all genres of performance arts through an annual open-access festival every June, programming and workshops to foster collaboration and cultivate new works. In addition to supporting independent artists and performers, we strive to make the arts accessible to all. We believe bringing artists and audiences together helps cultivate vibrant, inclusive, resilient and sustainable communities.

BIO:

Ann Sabbah is the Founder and Executive Director of the Denver Fringe Festival. In just three years, she has taken the Denver Fringe from a fledgling virtual event in June of 2020 to a multi-venue festival that involves hundreds of local and national artists and reaches thousands of audience members. Her professional experience in project management, website development and design, writing and content development has contributed to the success and expansion of the Denver Fringe Festival. In her role as arts administrator, Ann has built relationships with a vast network of creatives, innovators and leaders of cultural organizations throughout the Denver metropolitan area.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Independent artists are the lifeblood of a thriving arts scene, and Fringe festivals are the perfect platform to support them. I firmly believe that when more people are allowed to express themselves artistically and contribute their voices to the larger discourse, our communities will become more vibrant and equitable.

ROLE: Founding Board Member / Website Technology

FESTIVAL: www.denverfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Denver Fringe Festival is an open-application festival that supports bold, progressive arts and diverse voices in all genres of performance arts. Like all 300+ Fringe festivals around the world, our primary goal is to support independent artists. We also promote access to the arts by ensuring people can enjoy live performing arts – original theatre, comedy, improv, cabaret, dance, immersive theatre – at an affordable price.

BIO:

I've lived in Denver, Colorado the last 25 years and helped start the Denver Fringe. I am an entrepreneur in the non-fringe days. I love good food and good art!

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Access to a lot of people who need to speak their truth.

ROLE: Director

FESTIVAL: www.colchesterfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Colchester Fringe was established in 2019 by Cameron Abbott-Betts and Steve Goatman.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have rescheduled our festival several times. However, our first Fringe event occurred on Saturday, May 1st, 2021. Today, we took over public spaces for the first-ever #ShopWindowTakeover.

Our first festival occurred from Thursday, 21st October, to Sunday, 24th October 2021.

The aim was to support the work of local emerging artists while attracting performance companies from across the U.K. and overseas to the town.​

During this weekend, we took over various venues within the town centre, including theatres, shops, pubs, and nightclubs, and filled them all with extraordinary performances.

We believe that the Fringe is for everyone. Therefore, we are committed to keeping ticket prices low and promoting underrepresented voices, including LGBTQ+, Global Majority m, and disabled people, within our programme and festival team. We are proudly a non-profit festival.

BIO:

Former Fringe artist, turned academic and now Director.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe matters because it’s a safe place for the weird and wonderful. It’s a place where boundaries are broken and a comfortable environment for new audiences.

ROLE: Directrix & Founder

FESTIVAL: www.richmondfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Richmond Fringe was the first fully digital festival in the world, launched in April 2020. Based in Richmond, VA, it includes multidisciplinary performing arts, games, and community engagement.

BIO:

Creative alchemist and performer currently based in the US. Founder of Spectacle & Mirth production house for the Richmond Fringe Festival and internationally award-winning immersive projects.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is about WHO gets to be seen not about WHAT.

ROLE: Producer with Wandsworth Fringe (London) & World Fringe Co-Director

FESTIVAL: www.wandsworthfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Wandsworth Arts Fringe bursts into life for 17 brilliant days each June, shaking up South West London with an eclectic programme of arts and culture that thrills, moves, and inspires audiences from across the city. Wandsworth Arts Fringe is inclusive and led by the people taking part. It’s a spotlight on creativity in Wandsworth and a testing ground for new work.

BIO:

I have been working with fringe festivals since 2008, and I have been involved with managing World Fringe alongside Holly Lombardo, the founder. I am the Producer of Wandsworth Arts Fringe, London, UK, which is a local authority-led festival. I am also a freelancer working on cultural networks.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe festivals bring artist communities together, help bring communities together, provide opportunities and a deeper connection to place, and give a sense of pride in place and they can transform.

ROLE: Assistant venue manager and critic

FESTIVAL: www.gothenburgfringefestival.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Gothenburg fringe welcomes artists from all over the world, from poetry to drag to ASMR to dance.

BIO:

I’m Ceri, and I'm 24 years old. I'm from Plymouth, England. I found my fringe family in Gothenburg when I was 22 and studying at the University of Gothenburg as an exchange student from the University of Plymouth. Now I am a recent graduate with an upper second class honours bachelors degree in English with Creative Writing and I about to enter my third year with the Gothenburg fringe festival. During my time with the festival, I have been a writer on the media team, venue host, assistant venue manager and award presenter. My dream is to be a writer for stage and screen. It is a huge goal of mine to have my queer drag-centric script ICON produced and performed on stage. This would not have been possible without the inspiration and support of the team at the Gothenburg Fringe Festival, as they brought my love for theatre, drag and writing together in a way that has surmounted all expectations. As a queer and disabled person, I aim to represent, inspire and uplift others in the queer and disabled community the way others have

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is so essential for community and friendship amongst supporting arts and culture. My experience of living alone in a foreign country would have been vastly different had Gothenburg Fringe not caught me when I fell into Gothenburg. Fringe changed my life, inspired me to write for stage and continues to support me now even after finishing my studies, thus leaving Gothenburg. Fringe also allows people to be exposed to things and people they wouldn’t have necessarily seen otherwise, and it is so important to be open-minded and try new things!

ROLE: Co-Director

FESTIVAL: www.gbgfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Gothenburg Fringe is an explosion of creativity. Join us at unique and unexpected venues across the city for uncensored, cutting-edge performance art that stimulates, educates, and entertains.

Gothenburg Fringe has always focused on its site-specific edge, using non-traditional spaces to bring the public closer to performing arts and allow artists to explore their work in new ways.

In 2023, the festival developed into a 10-day event, providing the people of Gothenburg with a festival experience like no other. In addition, Gothenburg Fringe holds two seasonal showcases to keep the community active and has focused on artist development, offering educational and performance opportunities for young and emerging artists in Sweden and abroad.

BIO:

Since moving to Gothenburg from Vienna, Chris has been involved in the Swedish culture since 2018. Having first joined the Gothenburg Fringe team to help with of media and marketing, he eventually became one of the festival directors. Since graduating from University College Dublin in 2011, Chris has worked as a journalist and broadcaster in the sports world, including working for the European Handball Federation from 2012 to 2017. As a freelancer, he took the opportunity to throw himself into his passion for performing arts, transferring his ability to organise events and promote Gothenburg Fringe and independent artists. With no discernible talent for performing, Chris is content with fully focusing on providing a platform for others to shine and helping them share their stories.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe festivals around the world are connected by a mutual aim to present unique festivals for their communities. They offer a platform for artists to produce uncensored and forward-thinking work in a context where all genres are welcomed. Each acts as a leader in developing theatre artists and audiences in its community.

ROLE: Eventotron Founder & CEO

ORGANISATION: www.eventotron.com

ABOUT CONGRESS PARTNER:

Eventotron was created to help Fringe Festivals, large and small, run more simply and affordably and to give artists access to worldwide performance opportunities. We help with everything from registration to brochures, website integration, contracting, ticketing, settlements and much more.

BIO

Chris is a developer with a passion for and experience in all aspects of theatre. Prior to Eventotron, he worked in Theatre Management, Box Office Management, and Artist Development. He also receives the Sunday Times Playwriting Award and Directors' Guild Award.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

Because it’s open-access and unrestricted. There are still barriers, not least financial, but by and large anyone with an idea, passion and determination can share it with the world through Fringe Theatre. Eventotron is delighted to play its part in making the nurturing world of Fringe even easier and more affordable to access.

ROLE: Director

FESTIVAL: www.hastingscomedyfestival.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Hastings Comedy Festival originated in 2015 from an idea by co-directors Chris and Jake, uniting their passion for live comedy performance and the community of Hastings and St Leonards. The independent festival showcases a large variety of professional comedians and emerging comics from around the UK and the world. Shows are performed over 7 days in June at various venues throughout Hastings & St Leonards in East Sussex. This year’s festival hosted 80 shows with 3000 tickets sold, with many shows selling out. This being the festivals highest attendance since being founded.

We have a big passion for finding, supporting and promoting new comedy talent, which is at the core of our ethos of running the festival. If you're looking for the future bright stars of standup comedy, then Hastings is the festival showcase you really shouldn't miss out on''

BIO:

I am a stand-up comedian, one of two directors and founders of a successful independent comedy festival in the South East of England, which started in 2016

I also work for the British Red Cross and am a specialist outreach worker for the NHS in the Mental Health section.

I'm passionate about people and bringing those people together, I\'ve that involves dogs or jiu-jitsu then even better.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe Festivals have become an integral part of the cultural landscape, offering a platform for artists and performers to showcase their work outside of the mainstream. These festivals celebrate diversity, experimentation, and artistic freedom, making them essential to the arts community. With Fringe Festival there\'s a complete flexibility of direction andUnlike traditional arts festivals, Fringe Festivals welcome unconventional and alternative forms of expression. They encourage artists to explore new ideas, experiment with different genres, and take risks that they may not be free to do within more traditional art spaces. Fringe Festivals often act as a breeding ground for innovation and artistic collaboration. Artists from different disciplines and backgrounds come together, exchange ideas, and create works that transcend traditional genres.

ROLE: Executive Director

FESTIVAL: www.scrantonfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Scranton Fringe is an award-winning arts organization that has been producing innovative work since 2015, dedicated to creating a bold, engaging platform for thought-provoking art while striving to promote Northeast Pennsylvania as a viable creative environment. Our organization has grown into a year-round incubator of unique creative work, which includes workshops, community development programs, large main-stage productions, and more.

BIO:

Conor Kelly O’Brien is an actor, theater-maker, and arts advocate. Conor has performed Off-Broadway (59e59 Theatres, The Cell, Actors Company Theatre) and a few small TV and film roles. He has performed or seen his original works performed on stages across the US and Great Britain. He is a proud member of the New Vintage Ensemble and the Dramatist Guild of America. Conor serves as the performing arts manager for the DVAA (Delaware Valley Arts Alliance) and is the co-founder / executive director of the Scranton Fringe Festival! A resident artist with Arts In Education NEPA, Conor has taught in numerous residences throughout schools in Pennsylvania and New York.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe matters because, time and time again, when artists and cultural producers are truly empowered to co-pilot the artistic direction of their communities - everyone wins.

ROLE: Director

FESTIVAL: www.fringe.ee

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Tallinn Fringe is a 31 day, multi-genre, short-performance festival that takes place indoors and outdoors around Tallinn during August and September.

It is a festival by artists, for artists. It's a festival for venues, by venues.

It started in 2016 as 1 venue, 4-day event called \'\'Boom Chika Wau Wau\'\' and is now a multi-venue, 31-day festival under the more marketable \'\' Tallinn Fringe Festival\'\' brand.

BIO:

20+ years as a street, stage and ship performer with 10+ years of festival management experience and an entrepreneurial disposition since childhood.

Business-minded, performer-focused.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Tallinn Fringe matters because it gives curatorial power to artists and venues and makes culture accessible to a larger audience demographic than other festivals. It gives independent venues an opportunity to celebrate, learn, and work together. It also gives artists a place to network, learn, explain, and meet colleagues across genres and performance experiences.

ROLE: Producer

FESTIVAL: Cork Fringe Festival

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: We are in the process of organising a Cork Fringe Festival but

BIO:

Daniel Cremin is an award-winning psychological magician with a background in theatre performance. Having graduated from University College Cork with a Bachelor’s in Social Science, Daniel uses his talents of sleight of hand and magic, coupled with his knowledge of human psychology to create moments of wonder for his audiences. Daniel’s performances constantly revolutionise the traditional magic show with elements of mind reading, influence, and storytelling.

Over the last decade, Daniel has travelled the length and breadth of Ireland with this unique performance style, entertaining thousands along the way in the events entertainment industry. As well as this, Daniel has a Master\'s in Arts Management & Creative Producing and develops high-calibre theatre work through writing, producing, and directing. From creating and performing his own one-man show, IT’S ALL AN ACT! to directing musicals such as Grease and working with leaders in the field of psychological magic like Keith Barry, Daniel’s

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

A place to let artists express themselves in a way that is not restricted to the norms and space of a traditional festival. The enhanced element of liminality within the fringe is vital to the arts.

ROLE: Marketing & Development Manager

ORGANISATION: Tysers Live

ABOUT ORGANISATION:

Tysers Live is a global division of Tysers Insurance Brokers dedicated to servicing the needs of the global entertainment industry with offerings in Music, Theatre, Live Events, Media & Film and Advertising & Commercials. We bring together some of the world’s most passionate, knowledgeable and skilled risk and specialty insurance professionals to manage the many issues facing our clients today.

Our Theatre team is made up of industry experts who cover all areas of the sector and provide specialist insurance covering a variety of events across the entertainment world; clients include fringe festivals, theatres, producers, artistes, and live events. For more information visit tysers.com/tyserslive

BIO:

I am the marketing and business development manager for Tysers Live. I have an innate love of the creative industries with a background of 20+ years working across the entertainment industry & a passion for Theatre. At Tysers Live, I manage partnerships, sponsorships, and memberships, and I relish the opportunity to work with creatives to provide innovative solutions and build strong relationships.

WHY DOES THE FRINGE MATTER?

Fringe matters as it provides a platform for new and emerging artists, providing creative freedom and opportunity. It serves as a vital space for innovation, inclusivity and artistic growth which underpins the lifeblood of theatre.

ROLE: Head of Programming & Deputy Creative Director

FESTIVAL: www.melbournefringe.com.au

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Melbourne Fringe democratises the arts. We have a vision of cultural democracy – empowering anyone to realise their right to creative expression.

We champion discovery and experimentation, supporting the development and presentation of artworks by, with and for the people of Melbourne. We run the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival, the year-round venue Fringe Common Rooms at Trades Hall, and a range of arts sector leadership programs that uplift and mobilise our community.

We started life in 1982 as the Fringe Art Network, and now in our 42nd year (we look great for our age, don’t you think?), we remain committed to our roots – a collaborative, encouraging, representing and uniting of artists of all disciplines. Over four decades, we have matured into one of our state’s most significant and adventurous art organisations. We usher artists forward from the fringes, champion big new ideas and help new work find its audience. We work year-round as educators, promoters, advocates, and creators.

BIO:

Like many of his peers, Danny Delahunty has come to work in arts leadership via a deep love of facilitating creative work. As an independent arts producer and theatre director, Danny has presented over 50 seasons of 34 projects, working with established Australian theatre companies on independent projects and in touring works around Australia and overseas.

As a freelancer, Danny would balance his producing work with his theatre-making career while also working as a casting director, programming consultant, event manager and tours coordinator. But when the opportunity arose to lead the Melbourne Fringe Programs & Projects team, Danny made the difficult decision to leave his “portfolio career” behind and focus all his energy on working with CEO & Creative Director Simon Abrahams to transform Melbourne Fringe from a scrappy independent arts festival to the centrepiece of Melbourne’s creative calendar.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe matters because the mainstream too easily drowns out the voices that matter. Fringe matters because the main stages are too slow and too caught up in their systems and processes to respond to what\'s happening in the world. Fringe matters because people matter, and first and foremost, it is a framework to build platforms for people to share their stories. Fringe matters because it's built on a philosophy of open doors, and art can't happen in a silo.

ROLE: Artistic Director

Festival/Organisation: www.fringeencoreseries.com & www.sohoplayhouse.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The internal Fringe Encore Series presents the top fringe shows worldwide. Each season a selection committee attends world wide fringes and nominates shows. The winners are invited to bring their shows to SoHo Playhouse in New York City as part of our “best of the fests” series.

BIO:

Darren has produced and directed plays worldwide for the past 40 years. Serving as artistic director at NYC’s SoHo Playhouse since 2004.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

It is the greatest platform in the world for risk-taking, imaginative artists to launch their new ideas and shows.

ROLE: CEO

FESTIVAL: www.fringemi.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

FringeMI Festival was born in 2019 as NoLo Fringe Festival since it was based in the neighbourhood in which the organization team live. In only 5 years, the festival grew so much in many other districts that it had to change its name to another one, more representative of the entire city of Milan.

FringeMI is a diffused festival with a horizontal business model, and in its last edition on June 2023, it developed in 12 districts and 51 venues, with 70 shows (16 of them replied 5 times in a week), attracting 8000 people.

BIO:

I was born in 1965 in Milan and graduated in 1992 in Economics. After working for GDO organizations, from 2005, I started to be an organisational consultant, behavioural trainer and event organiser.

In 2007 I started studying theatre, dramaturgy, direction. In 2013 I began a personal project of storytelling plays based upon historical facts, called Fatti di Storia, and on 2015 one of them went to EdFringe, getting to know the Fringe atmosphere. In 2018 I founded a charity to organize a Fringe Festival in my neighbourhood in Milan, now become FringeMI Festival.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is important mainly for artists because it’s a place where they can perform their show in total freedom and get to know new audiences and theatre operators. I believe the Fringe concept is essential to the theatre sector, too, because it can be a powerful way for a real audience development due to the particular places where shows are performed, not theatres or institutions but unconventional spaces or even places of the ordinary life such as pubs, restaurants, shops, university classrooms.

ROLE: Executive Director

FESTIVAL: www.minnesotafringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Minnesota Fringe connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences by creating open, supportive forums for diverse artistic expression. Fringe programs and platforms empower artists across the artistic spectrum to take creative risks, expand their notions of the performing arts, and engage a wide variety of Minnesotans drawn by a multitude of genres and themes. We open theatre doors for performers and patrons alike, cultivating a rich performing arts community in the process.

BIO:

Dawn joined Fringe in April 2017 with leadership expertise focused on navigating strategic vision to achieve the most significant potential. In her previous position as the first Executive Director of Art Shanty Projects, she was charged with creating infrastructure and establishing improved outcomes in all key functional areas. Dawn is an arts aficionado and has played violin for nearly 40 years in various ensembles, from rock bands to professional orchestras, with a dozen recordings in her repertoire. She holds Masters’s degrees in Nonprofit Management and Business Administration from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Minnesota is home to one of the most robustly supported and supportive Fringe Festivals in the United States. Founded in 1993 to promote freedom and diversity of artistic expression in our community, Minnesota Fringe just celebrated its 30th year with an annual 11-day festival of 500+ performances of 100+ shows, supporting hundreds of artists and connecting 20,000+ patrons to the performing arts. Our annual unjuried, uncensored celebration of the performing arts enables artists across the entire artistic spectrum to take risks and explore creativity. Serving artists and audiences from the metro, statewide, nationally, and internationally, Fringes engage an array of patrons drawn by the multitude of themes, genres, and communities on stage. Through dynamic festivals worldwide, Fringe Festivals support artistic growth and serve as vibrant catalysts for audiences to experience new ideas, artists, venues, and neighbourhoods.

ROLE: Executive Director

FESTIVAL: www.atlantafringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: We formed Twinhead Theatre because the opportunities to get onstage were thin on the ground; in 2006, we took a show to the Minnesota Fringe and wanted the same kind of frantic, exciting energy around performance in our city. We launched Atlanta Fringe in 2012, which is dedicated to providing a platform for independent performing artists to showcase their work and entertain Atlanta with unique stories and diverse voices. With a volunteer committee of 10-15 people, we produce an excellent, small, grassroots, artist-focused festival.

BIO:

As a student at Georgia State University, Diana helped found her own theatre company, Twinhead Theatre. She wrote, produced, and performed over 60 original comedy shows, a feature-length sketch movie, and a web series. She began organising the Atlanta Fringe Festival in 2010, shortly after Twinhead got their nonprofit status, with the first festival in 2012. Diana continues to act and write and host and produce original podcasts, including the history show Ridiculous Romance and the movie review show A.I. Made Us Watch.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is the mouth of the mainstream, the place to find what could be the next big thing or conversation. Fringe has an energy of freedom & controlled chaos that I\'ve never experienced at another theatre festival. Fringe has the hustle culture of entrepreneurship combined with the services of a nonprofit, enabling artists to build their experience based on their own goals instead of some panel or committee\'s goals or agenda. Fringe empowers and encourages artists and audiences to try new things and expose themselves to new ideas, processes, people, and perspectives. Fringe is life-changing.

ROLE: Critics Coordinator

FESTIVAL: www.atlantafringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

We formed Twinhead Theatre because the opportunities to get onstage were thin on the ground; in 2006, we took a show to the Minnesota Fringe and wanted the same kind of frantic, exciting energy around performance in our city. We launched Atlanta Fringe in 2012, dedicated to providing a platform for independent performing artists to showcase their work and entertain Atlanta wit

BIO:

Eli is an actor, writer, director, and producer from Atlanta. As Artistic Director of Twinhead Theatre, he produced over 50 productions. The Atlanta Fringe Fest began as a project of Twinhead Theatre by Diana Brown in 2012, and Eli has been involved as a producer, staff member, or artist every year.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

There is so little support for small arts organizations in the USA. Community is our strongest resource, and having a Fringe in Atlanta has brought a revitalized sense of community to this scene and connected us to a larger web of other communities across the world. Fringe art is the rawest form of expression and an opportunity for artists who don't fit within the standard box. Without Fringe art, we risk homogenization. We risk stunting and stalling and even regressing in our forms of expression. Fringe Festivals are the spark that keeps fresh, new, exciting art alive in a world that feels increasingly resistant to it.

ROLE: Festival organiser

FESTIVAL: www.gothenburgfringefestival.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: The Gothenburg Fringe Festival is an explosion of creativity. Join us at unique and unexpected venues across the city for uncensored, cutting-edge performance art that stimulates, educates, and entertains.

BIO:

Joined Gothenburg Fringe 2017. Organised workshops and became producer and president. My main role has been to coordinate volunteers. Currently, I'm curating the opening ceremony and building the team.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Performing art opens up minds and inspires imagination

ROLE: Co-Executive Director

FESTIVAL: www.hollywoodfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is an annual, open-access, community-derived event celebrating freedom of expression and collaboration in the performing arts community. For almost a full month each June during the Hollywood Fringe, the arts infiltrate the Hollywood neighbourhood: fully equipped theatres, parks, clubs, bars, and other unexpected places host hundreds of productions by local, national, and international arts companies and independent performers.

Participation in the Hollywood Fringe is completely open and uncensored. This free-for-all approach underlines the festival’s mission to be a platform for artists without the barrier of a curating body. By opening the gates to anyone with a vision, the festival is able to exhibit the most diverse and cutting-edge points of view the world has to offer. Additionally, by creating an environment where artists must self-produce their work, the Fringe motivates its participants to cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurialism in the arts.

BIO:

Ellen Boudreau-Den Herder (she/they) is an arts programming specialist. As HFF's Co-Executive Director, they seek to create programming that connects HFF with the LA Theatre community at large. Previously HFF's Programs Director, they helped create Fringe Scholarships & Fringe Access, HFF's initiatives to help expand & diversify the pool of artists at the festival, as well as ran the Producers & Creatives Workshop & Networking series.

Outside of the Fringe, Ellen has worked in programming, festival production and/or community outreach at various arts orgs such as Goldenvoice, Live Nation, B.R.I.D.G.E Theatre Project, Industry Opera LA & Grand Vision Foundation, as well as participated in Cornerstone Summer Institute & Arts for LA ACTIVATE program.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

I think it's a powerful form of expression: a lightly boundaried playground where artists can take risks and create art that may not be funded or put-up anywhere else. I love the artistic community that each festival builds in its unique city and the relationships each of our cities build together through our Festivals. Fringe rocks!

ROLE: Founder & Executive Director

FESTIVAL: www.elginfringefestival.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The mission of the Elgin Fringe Festival is to encourage bold artistic experimentation and innovation by providing an accessible, affordable experience for both artists and audiences alike.

BIO:

M.F.A., was Founder and Artistic Director of Core Project Chicago, a dance-based, interdisciplinary performing arts collective and Founder/Director of Side Street Studio Arts in her hometown of Elgin, IL. Core Project, 2006-2016, pushed the boundaries of storytelling through artistic collaboration with dramatic, sound, media and text artists and founded the Going Dutch Festival, a celebration of the female voice in dance, music, theater, and the visual arts. Erin earned a B.A. in Journalism from Western Illinois University, studied dance technique and choreography at the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC, where she was later hired the Director of Press and Marketing, and was a founding member of Kim Nofsinger’s Shelter Repertory Dance Theatre. She has performed the choreography of Stefanie Batten Bland and E.E. Balcos, and has danced with Jay-Son/Tisa Dance Company, Nicole Gifford Dance, Jennifer Sandoval and others.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe matters because access to creative resources and experiences matters.

ROLE: Director of Audience and Volunteer Engagement

FESTIVAL: www.minnesotafringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Minnesota Fringe connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences by creating open, supportive forums for diverse artistic expression. Fringe programs and platforms empower artists across the artistic spectrum to take creative risks, expand their notions of the performing arts, and engage a wide variety of Minnesotans drawn by a multitude of genres and themes. We throw theatre doors wide open for performers and patrons alike, cultivating a rich performing arts community in the process.

BIO: Felicia Cooper is the Director of Audience and Volunteer Engagement at Minnesota Fringe, one of the largest Fringe Festivals in the United States. She runs a big behind-the-scenes party, overseeing dozens of house managers and box officers and hundreds of volunteers. When Felicia isn’t fringing, she is a researcher and artist working in puppetry.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe matters because theatre and performance are grand experiments and need space where this is possible and embraced. Fringe creates space for art that takes risks and supports that art.

ROLE: Founder + Director

FESTIVAL(S): www.fringeitaliaoff.com & www.milanooff.com & www.cataniaoff.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL(S):

The first Fringe Festival in Milano took place in 2016 on the outskirt called “Isola”. Since that time, many things developed. Today, the network Fringe Italia Off is an artistic and cultural project that connects the cities of Milan and Catania through the two Fringe Festivals, MILANO OFF and CATANIA OFF (held between September and October). In 2012, the first PALCO OFF took place, the first in a series of annual events that connect with the national and international fringe networks, showcasing the best independent productions and serving as a hub for initiatives by entities that share the Fringe culture throughout Italy.

The first Milano OFF Fringe Festival was followed in 2022 by the establishment of a sister festival, the Catania OFF Fringe Festival. Respectively in their 6th and 3rd editions, the Milano and Catania Festivals celebrate Fringe and non-commercial theatre and performing arts. They are not simply festivals “in the city”, but “OF the city”: in fact, our festivals aim to achieve the maximum involvement of Milan’s and Catania’s cultural fabrics and increase territorial marketing and non-seasonal tourism. Further, we aim to be a real international hub and cultural exchange for artists.

BIO:

I’m the founder and artistic director of the Cultural Association "La Memoria del Teatro ETS" (LMDT). As an actress, author, director, and lawyer specialising in entertainment law, I have dedicated my career to promoting theatrical culture and new dramaturgy. Since 2001, I have led LMDT, based in Milan and Catania, focusing on organising theatrical events, producing shows, and socio-cultural training. I am also the author and performer of theatrical works such as “Parole Mute – Una testimonianza sull’Alzheimer” (Silent words: a witness about Alzheimer) “Sugnu o non sungu – una notte insonne in casa Shakespeare” (to be or not to be: a sleepless night in Shakespeare’s house), and others. “Esperanto - commedia semiseria sui divorzi sanguinosi” ("Esperanto - A Semi-Serious Comedy about Bloody Divorces”), was my last production in 2023. My passion for human rights is reflected in projects like "Speak Truth to Power," which I realised in collaboration with the Bar Association of Milan and Catania.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

The Fringe matters because it fosters a deep relationship with other actors and artists, creating a collaborative environment where creativity can thrive. This connection enhances individual performances and builds a supportive community that drives artistic innovation. It is also important to facilitate valuable cultural exchange by bringing diverse voices and perspectives together. This exchange enriches both the performers and the audience, promoting greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures and artistic expressions.

ROLE: Festival Director

FESTIVAL: www.newdelhifringe.in

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

New Delhi Fringe is designed as an alternative performing arts festival; aims to create newer, diverse audiences and spaces across India and outside.

BIO: Gaurav Suri is the Festival Director of the multicity Atelier\'s Campus Theatre Festival - ACT and New Delhi Fringe Festival; presently performing in Daastaan-E-Guru Nanak & Khusar Phusar; got cast in Chai-Kahaani & Jujhar Cheema...

Oh yes! he is also a full-time IT person, managing a responsible post in a multinational company. Gaurav has been associated with Atelier Theatre since 2013.

Productions: Khusar Phusar; Chaar Chullh; Perfect Wedding; Kuchh Afsaney; Daastaan-E-Guru Nanak; Sher-E-Shamsheer: Guru Tegh Bahadur; Prithvi.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is the place where people meet to celebrate art, irrespective of the boundaries. I wish we manifest being in the celebration throughout the year.

ROLE:  Assistant Venue manager, runner and core team support

FESTIVAL: www.gbgfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Gothenburg Fringe is an explosion of creativity. Join us at unique and unexpected venues across the city for uncensored, cutting-edge performance art which stimulates, educates and entertains.

Gothenburg Fringe has always focused on its site-specific edge, using non-traditional spaces to bring the public closer to performing arts and allow artists to explore their work in new ways.

BIO:

Lover of all arts, but there’s a special place in my heart for dance and performance art. 

After studying art at a young age and spending all my spare time in the dance studio, I’ve more recently been active behind the scenes, doing scenography, choreographies and choir arrangements for my university’s student theatre and dance group. Now with a Bachelor in Business Administration, my most recent refuge is painting and creating abstract art, exploring textures and themes around mental health. 

I joined the Gothenburg fringe in 2021 and have been in love ever since. 

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

Fringe in general, and Gothenburg fringe in particular, is such a unique venue for creating community and bringing the arts closer to the audience. In today's world where we become more and more desensitized and anonymous to the world around us, Fringe has a way of making you pause and bringing you back to the now. It creates space for thought, laughs and wonder. Fringe matters because it creates connection.   

ROLE: Cochairman

FESTIVAL: www.festivaloffavignon.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

A spontaneous space for creation was born in 1966 on the side of the Festival d’Avignon, known as In. The festival Off Avignon is today one of the largest worldwide live performing arts festivals. A unique model built with the independent structures that participate in it, the festival Off Avignon welcomes all the richness and diversity of national and international artistic creation. Every summer, in July, Avignon becomes a city festival with thousands of artists who take over the streets and more than a hundred theatres in the city.

The Avignon Festival & Compagnies (AF&C) association was created in 2006 at the initiative of companies and theatres to support the event, its setting, its stakeholders and its development.

BIO:

With a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Performing Arts, he worked for 10 years for the Maison des écrivains et de la littérature as a program manager for school and university writers from 1997 to 2007. He then took over the direction of the Théâtre de Die (Drôme) in 2008, and stage conventioned Art en Territoire in 2014. Finally, from 2018, he led the association Prix du Jeune Ecrivain (Haute-Garonne) until 2022. At the same time, he developed an activity as an independent show entrepreneur (production, distribution and exhibition of theatres in Avignon, where he co-directed the Rouge Gorge, the Archipelago and the Atypik Theatre, permanent theatres all year round). He also conducted 2002 to 2017 Eclats, festival de la voix au Pays de Dieulefit and Une Saison de Lecture in Paris from 2003 to 2017. Since 2022, he is co-chair of AF&C, the organization that coordinates the Festival Off d\'Avignon.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

It's the place to be for independence and freedom

ROLE: Director

FESTIVAL: www.worldfringe.com

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: World Fringe exists for the benefit of artists, performers, and audiences. World Fringe operates to unite, strengthen, and connect the Fringe Festival Sector and global Fringe community through introduction, communication, education, and information dissemination.

BIO: National & International Culture Strategist. Creative networks expert, working with artists, venues and creative organisations. Founder of World Fringe in 2007

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

They are born from passion and hard work; a passion for development, creating a platform, and seeing and realising new ideas and initiatives. Fringes are exciting sparks where stars are made; they are the ‘innovation’ of the future.

ROLE: Communications Director

ORGANISATION: www.hello.eventotron.com

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION:

Eventotron is an online arts management system that brings together artists, live performance events, venues, and festivals worldwide. From fully customisable registration and application forms to venue scheduling, artist liaison, ticketing, settlements, and our API to securely share data directly to websites and apps, Eventotron is an incredibly flexible solution for anyone organising live or online arts events. More arts. Less admin.

BIO:

Holly Whytock has over 20 years of experience in the arts sector, specialising in communications and organisational development. She was Director of the arts charity - Masterclass TRH in London’s West End, leading the organisation through a rebrand and successfully building audiences. Before joining Eventotron in 2019, Holly was a freelance marketing consultant for various arts organisations and projects, including Coming Up Festival - Old Vic and TheatreCraft Careers Fair - Royal Opera House.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe provides a platform for new and emerging talent to experiment, hone their craft, and create change from the industry's grassroots. It helps bring communities together and is one of the most accessible/affordable ways to experience the arts. It cultivates new audiences and produces talent and ideas for the future.

ROLE: Founder / WFC Keynote Speaker

ORGANISATION: Founder, Museum of Artificial Intelligence & www.rumtiden.com

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION:

We have a unique and futuristic space at Södermalm Stockholm, perfect for smaller events suitable for such an environment. The space can be equipped with screens, projections, light and sound, interactive art, holograms, installations, and robots. Rent our installations for your own event. We can provide transport, mounting, and a host to guide your guests. Book a session with Rumtiden’s creative training tools and games. Practice your idea-making skills, nonlinear thinking, and future literacy.

BIO:

Håkan Lidbo is a musician, artist and inventor who believes that the human imagination is the world's most poorly exploited natural resource. Not only does this limit our ability to solve problems and collaborate, but with our imagination untrained, it’s difficult for us to imagine any future except what we already know. Therefore, we vote for bad politicians, we allow ourselves to be polarised and we lose hope.

But with self-developed games, training tools and design fiction methods, Håkan encourages us to train our idea making skills, our imagination muscles - and our abilities to navigate towards possible futures.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Many think of culture as an add-on, as luxury, not for everyone, something slightly unnecessary. But they're not looking from the right perspective. Culture is not only the fabric that binds us together, it’s who we are, both as people and individuals. Every aspect of our existence, that we used to believe could be found within ourselves, is actually not there, but instead in our cultures - including our identity and consciousness. That’s why a festival that explores new expressions of cultures is more important than we can imagine.

ROLE: Producer

FESTIVAL: CORK FRINGE

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: In development.

BIO:

Ineke Lavers is a freelance journalist and producer based between Cork and Abu Dhabi. She completed her undergraduate studies in Museum Studies and Political Science in The Netherlands in 2019 and her postgraduate degree in Arts Management and Creative Producing in Ireland in 2024. She most recently worked as a producer and marketer for CurrentLee Arts Festival in Cork Opera House, working on both the festival program and website development.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

They connect people to a place.

ROLE: Director

FESTIVAL: www.hastingscomedyfestival.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Hastings Comedy Festival originated in 2015 from an idea by co-directors Chris and Jake, uniting their passion for live comedy performance and the community of Hastings and St Leonards. The independent festival showcases a large variety of professional comedians and emerging comics from around the UK and the world. Shows are performed over 7 days in June at various venues throughout Hastings & St Leonards in East Sussex. This year’s festival hosted 80 shows with 3000 tickets sold, with many shows selling out. This being the festivals highest attendance since being founded.

We have a big passion for finding, supporting and promoting new comedy talent, which is at the core of our ethos of running the festival. If you're looking for the future bright stars of standup comedy, then Hastings is the festival showcase you really shouldn't miss out on''

BIO:

Jake is co-director of Hastings Fringe Comedy Festival which was founded in 2015. Jake also works in health and social care and is a counselling student studying towards his qualification. Jake has always lived in Hastings and loves being by the sea. Jake is a dynamic professional who brings a unique blend of compassion, creativity, and humour to his work in health and social care. With a dedication to making a positive impact, Jake has spent years supporting individuals and communities, ensuring they receive the care and support they need. By day, Jake excels in his role in health and social care, where his empathetic nature and keen understanding of human behaviour allow him to connect with and assist those in need. His work is driven by a deep-seated belief in the importance of kindness and understanding, qualities that shine through in every interaction. Jake and Chris transform into the masterminds behind a thriving comedy festival, where he co- directs and curates’ performances that bring joy and laughter to countless people. His dual career paths reflect his commitment to both emotional well-being and the healing power of laughter. A lover of travel, Jake enjoys exploring new places and cultures, always seeking out new experiences and adventures. These travels not only enrich his life but also provide fresh perspectives and ideas that he brings back to both his professional and personal endeavours. At home, Jake is a devoted father to his teenage son, who keeps him grounded and continually inspires him with his youthful energy and outlook on life. They share a close bond, filled with shared jokes, deep conversations, and mutual respect. In all his roles, Jake Alexander is guided by a commitment to making the world a better, happier place, one smile and one kind act at a time.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

Fringe matters as it fosters creativity, innovation and inclusivity within the arts. Fringe festivals provide a platform which allows diverse voices and stories to be heard, reflecting a broader range of human experiences and perspectives. This inclusivity enriches the cultural landscape and encourages societal empathy and understanding. Fringe festivals are an incubator for emerging talent where they have the freedom to take risk and hone their craft. Fringe offers audiences a unique opportunity to watch performers up close for a more affordable ticket fee, making performances accessible to all. In summary, fringe matters because it champions artistic freedom, supports emerging talent, enhances cultural diversity, and brings economic and social benefits to communities.

ROLE: Managing Director

FESTIVAL: www.ashevillefringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival began in 2003 after Susan and Giles Collard of Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre experienced Fringe festivals in San Francisco and Toronto. They started Asheville’s Fringe in one venue, the beloved BeBe Theatre. But the following year, it had expanded to other venues. The festival is now a multi-day, multi-venue performing arts extravaganza, with performances in theatres, galleries, clubs, and odd spaces, including the LaZoom bus.

The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival provides artists with opportunities to explore the edges of their work, collaborate across genres, and bring new and innovative performances to culturally adventurous audiences. Our continual goal is to curate experiences that expand the minds and hearts of our audiences and to be inclusive of artists who work within a myriad of genres, styles, and forms to create truly unique and original pieces in our community.

BIO:

Jennifer Bennett is a designer and photographer outside Asheville, North Carolina. She\'s spent decades designing maps, buildings, games, festivals, merch, and just about any other type of thing you can imagine. These days, she focuses on the performing arts, helping artists and arts organizations meet their potential through creative and practical support. She runs an avant-gard record label and has four cats.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is important because it gives artists space to experiment, creates space for new artists, and connects adventurous audiences with original works.

ROLE: Co-founder and Youth Coordinator

FESTIVAL: www.rvkfringe.is

ABOUT FESTIVAL:

RVK Fringe is a seven-day festival that happens in the month of June, with around ten venues and around 100 shows throughout the week. The festival consists of comedy, theatre, music, burlesque, drag and circus, with late-night events/parties making it a vibrant and energetic festival. We are often looking for ambitious, innovative and engaging performances of all kinds. We are part of the Baltic Nordic Fringe Network, with our applications opening up around November and closing in January.

BIO:

Jess is one of the co-founders of RVK Fringe. She's a Jane of many trades, having done production, set/lighting/sound design, acting, writing and other types of creating. With a special love for immersive events, she has worked on broadening the offers available in Iceland, blending genres, and having a blast while at it! Jess is back this year after founding the RVK Youth Fringe to bring in the next generation of Fringe artists! Jess believes all art is valid and wants to help elevate young people to be self-sufficient in their creative worlds and not rely on adults to tell them how to perform. Community is key, and she's thrilled to get to be a part of the Fringe family and foster that feeling in tiny Reykjavík.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT DOES THE FRINGE MATTER?

Why does the Fringe matter? Fringe matters because all art is valid. In tiny communities like Iceland, where nepotism rules the mainstream art world, we need to nurture and help thrive artists who aren't connected to the machine. Fringe gives so many marginalized groups a chance to showcase their art, and that is priceless.

ROLE: Managing Director

FESTIVAL: www.elginfringefestival.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The mission of the Elgin Fringe Festival is to encourage bold artistic experimentation and innovation by providing an accessible, affordable experience for both artists and audiences alike.

BIO:

Jess Rocha is Managing Director of the Elgin Fringe Festival, Committee member of Going Dutch, and the Director of Operations for Side Street Studio Arts. 11 Years in the dental field, 1 year in customer service, 2 years in e-commerce retail, and 6 years at Side Street Studio Arts. Jess earned a B.F.A in New Studio Practice from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), as well as an A.S and A.F.A from Elgin Community College (ECC). At ECC, Jess discovered a passion for printmaking and screenprinting and would go on to focus her discipline at MIAD in that field. Following an eye surgery that at the time made it difficult to work on detailed projects, she switched to sculptural mediums and presented a large-scale sculptural installation as her senior thesis. Following her college education, Jess applied for the 2018 Artist in Residence program at SSSA.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe provides a space for everyone to enjoy, create, and participate in the art of all kinds. It removes barriers so people can experience something truly unique.

ROLE: Executive Director Programs and Development

FESTIVAL: www.adelaidefringe.com.au

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Adelaide Fringe is a world-renowned annual arts festival that celebrates culture, places, and artists from across the globe.

Bringing 6,000+ independent artists far and wide to South Australia, Adelaide Fringe is a destination for culture seekers in search of a hive of activity.

For more than 60 years, Fringe\'s innovative and inclusive approach as an open-access arts festival has made it a hub for emerging talent and a destination for established artists from around the world. Among the audiences at Adelaide Fringe are hundreds of industry professionals from around the world, scouting for shows to book for future touring. This makes Adelaide Fringe a thriving marketplace for artists and a public facing festival.

Adelaide Fringe is a not-for-profit organisation that celebrates diversity and encourages social cohesion through cultural exchange. It brings people together and provides a platform for artists to share their unique perspectives with a global audience.

BIO:

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ballarat, Jo worked as an independent artist, touring her work nationally and working across corporate entertainment and theatre in education settings. Jo presented work at Adelaide Fringe and many other Festivals for over a decade before joining the team behind the scenes and leading operations in some of Melbourne\'s biggest arts festivals. Prior appointments include Festival Director at Short + Sweet Melbourne, Associate Producer at Melbourne Fringe, Operations Manager at Melbourne International Film Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. With extensive leadership experience in development, income generation, creative projects and business management in the not-for-profit Arts sector, Jo is dedicated to ensuring artists have a voice and a platform to present it. In her current role she continues to advocate for independent artistic practice and is driven by the impact the arts can make on connecting communities, challenging our status Q!

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Social cohesion: Recent reports in Australia show that social cohesion and societal compassion for those who look, feel, and are different from them have decreased by 20% in the last year alone. Fringe is an important way of sharing stories, ideas, and empathy for a connected humanity.

ROLE: Festival Director

FESTIVAL: www.scarboroughfair.uk

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: Scarborough Fringe is one of five new festivals being set up under the banner of the newly reformed Scarborough Fair and run by North Yorkshire Council.

BIO: I've been about in the Fringe world since 1996 and never left!

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

It is an essential open platform for artists at all stages of their careers to create, develop and sell their work.

ROLE: Founding Board Member / Media Lead

FESTIVAL: www.denverfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Denver Fringe Festival is an open-application festival that supports bold, progressive arts and diverse voices in all genres of performance arts. Like all 300+ Fringe festivals worldwide, our primary goal is to support independent artists. We also promote access to the arts by ensuring people can enjoy live performing arts – original theatre, comedy, improv, cabaret, dance, immersive theatre – at an affordable price.

Mission Statement: The Denver Fringe Festival brings original, innovative, and experimental fringe performances to creative venues at an affordable price. We believe live performance entertains, enlightens, and empowers, and bringing artists and audiences together helps cultivate vibrant, inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities.

BIO:

Kalen is a professional photographer, community builder and a natural connector with a deep passion for the arts, photography documentation and sustainable economic growth. Born and raised in Denver, Kalen lived in New Zealand for a few years and was deeply involved in the Fringe festival there. She’s excited to grow the Fringe in her hometown after seeing its impact on her New Zealand community. The founder of Kalen Jesse Photography, she loves empowering artists and entrepreneurs through photography/photographing the arts!

Kalen Jesse Photography: We're an inclusive, women-owned photography business specialising in capturing the genuine, heartfelt moments that define your journey. Kalen manages the media and photography team at Denver Fringe and has documented every single Fringe show. Kalen Jesse provides photo content for all the shows and artists.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is the single most powerful tool to elevate the arts in an accessible manner where all are welcome. The fact that I have been involved in Fringe from various cities worldwide highlights how this international movement brings people together and makes the world feel so much smaller. There is NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN FRINGE

ROLE: CEO / Founding producer

ORGANISATION(S): www.danishedfringe.com & www.locations.dk & www.wildtopia.dk #DANISH at EdFringe

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION(S):

WILDTOPIA initiated and produced the award-winning and highly acclaimed #DANISH showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It has been presented in collaboration with the Danish Arts Foundation 2020 – 2023. In 2024 WILDTOPIA collaborates with the Embassy of Denmark in London and will be supported by the Danish Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During COVID, WILDTOPIA launched the critically acclaimed Digital First Performing Arts Festival – RE:LOCATIONS and the recognised workshop for creatives SHINE YOUR WORK that supports artists and producers in promoting their work in a purpose-driven way with ease and integrity.

BIO:

Karen Toftegaard is a cultural entrepreneur (based in Copenhagen, Denmark) who specialises in creative processes and festival development. She is a published author about creativity and facilitates learning- and cognition processes. 2017 - 2024 Karen has built up the international profile and strategy of Denmark\'s national festival CPH STAGE, as Head of International Programming and Production at CPH STAGE - Denmark`s national festival for performing arts. The purpose was all the time to connect people with the arts that made them understand themselves, each other and the world they are a part of - as well as empower artists and producers in working internationally - placing Danish performing arts on the international map - and then sharing the platform with artists and producers from the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

She is the founding CEO of WILDTOPIA by Karen Toftegaard ApS that a.o. initiated and produced the award-winning and highly acclaimed #DANISH showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

I believe in festival\'s ability to change communities - both creative communities and local, national, international audience communities. Fringe is the essence of entrepreneurship - we either find a way or make one. In the framing of a temporary festival, you can challenge the status quo and introduce formats or ways of doing things that wouldn't be able to survive in the all-year-round performing arts cycle yet. However, when introduced in a framing where people are ready to meet new formats and new ways of doing things, it gets accepted more easily. And might even invoke a permanent change that is being adapted by all-year-round venues. This drive to challenge and introduce new formats and artistic expressions is key.

ROLE:  RVK Fringe Committee Member

FESTIVAL: www.rvkfringe.is

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

RVK Fringe is a seven-day festival that happens in the month of June, with around ten venues and around 100 shows throughout the week. The festival consists of comedy, theatre, music, burlesque, drag and circus, with late-night events/parties making it a vibrant and energetic festival. We are often looking for ambitious, innovative and engaging performances of all kinds. We are part of the Baltic Nordic Fringe Network, with our applications opening up around November and closing in January.

BIO:

Mack (she/her) is queer nomadic arts maker from NYC who loves other arts makers. Professional audience member pays very little so she became a Producer & Storytelling Dramaturg crafting over 40 new shows including her own phones-on solo show #UGLYCRY this past year. Honored to have an unlikely home on the Reykjavik Fringe.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

Fringes are the centrifugal force for the excuse to create weird, challenging, itch scratching works of art that center a community & arts makers that otherwise might not find a home. It is the gym for artists to shape their identity intended for audiences that might be searching for their own.

ROLE: Artistic Producer

FESTIVAL: www.montrealfringe.ca

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

MainLine Theatre is a multidisciplinary organization that exists to support the development of emerging, mid-career and professional artists. MainLine favours artistic practice and models of production centred around the democratization of artistic creation by reducing accessibility barriers faced by artists and audiences. It supports artists through its leadership in the community and by providing opportunities for presentation, professional development and affordable space availability. MainLine acts as a catalyst and a jumping point into the industry for hundreds of artists annually through its various activities, such as the production of the Montreal Fringe Festival and Bouge d’ici.

BIO:

From humble beginnings growing up on a Brome Lake dairy farm southeast of Montreal, Kenny always aspired to be an actor. His passion for creating has led him to establish his own theatre company which produced his first play since high school, City Boy, based on the life of my cousin living in the country. He performed in his first solo autobiographical play, Malunderstood at MainLine Theatre, where he works as Artistic Producer of the theatre and produces the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. He is currently the co-chair of the Tour and Artist Relations Committee for the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals. In November 2023, he became the recipient of the Unsung Hero of the Theatre awarded by the community at the Montreal English Theatre Award for continuing to go above and beyond his job to support the success of English theatre.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe will make the world a better place.

ROLE: CEO & Festival Director

FESTIVAL: www.sydneyfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

BIO:

Kerri is the founding co-director of artist-run company 505, which operated the legendary live music club Venue 505 in Surry Hills (2004-19) and the award-winning Old 505 Theatre in Newtown (2015 to present). Beyond the walls of 505 Kerri has worked in various roles in the Sydney arts scene as performer, director and theatre practitioner. In 2013, she was appointed as CEO & Festival Director of the Sydney Fringe Festival. Under her stewardship, Sydney Fringe has grown from a small community event to the largest independent arts festival in NSW.

A leading advocate for the Independent arts sector, she has contributed to several key action plans/policies and resulting reforms including Creative Communities- NSW Government cultural policy 2023, REVIVE- Australian Government cultural policy 2023; the Committee for Sydney’s- Everyday Culture Project 2023 and Sydney a 24 Hour City Report 2019 the City of Sydney’s- Live Music and Performance Action Plan 2014, Inner West Council’s – Off Broadway Plan 2015. In her role at the Sydney Fringe Festival, she works extensively, leading the way in temporary re-adaptive use of space for performance that resulted in the now nationally recognised report: An Anthology of Space 2015-2018: Activating Unused and Under-utilised Space for the Performing and Creative Industries of NSW.

She is currently a founding Board Director of the Night Time Industries Association, founding Board Director of the Live Music Venues Association, sits on the Create NSW’s Festivals Artform Board and a Board Director of peak body PAC Australia.

She served as co-chair of the City of Sydney’s Nightlife and Cultural Sector Advisory Committee from 2019-2022, a Director of the City Recital Hall Board from 2015-2019 and in 2011, was included in the Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Magazine’s annual 100 Most Influential and Inspiring People list.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Everyone has a right to have their story heard, and Fringe provides a platform for everyone to say what they want in the way they want and where they want. Our Fringe is a vital part of our city’s cultural sector. We support creatives through all stages of their careers and nurture local stories to be told in their originating environment. Fringe is for everyone, which is the magic and beauty of all our festivals. There are no gatekeepers, and because of this, Fringe is a place to see new work that has the ability to be immediate and responsive to the world in the moment. This is entirely unique to other cultural festivals that might program 18-24 months out. This immediacy connects the community and allows audiences to experience how a city feels and what it has to say.

ROLE: Founder & CEO

FESTIVAL: www.sdfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

San Diego International Fringe Festival focuses on fringe artists and creating community while also encouraging the development of San Diego & Mexico as destinations for innovative artistic expression.

BIO:

“I'm just a shy boy looking for artsy friends.”

Kevin Charles Patterson is a former professional Actor / Singer / Dancer (with an emphasis on dance with a degree in Theatre-Dance from the UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS in Philadelphia). Following a short, successful career on stage, Mr Patterson went on to direct a professional dance school for 20 years, having students that have gone on to National Tours. Since opening the school, he has gone on to produce, direct, and/or choreograph regional theatre and Broadway tours. He is the Founder & CEO of the San Diego International Fringe Festival.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

It's one of the most essential parts of the performing arts sector because of the overall impact.

ROLE: Manager / WFC 2024 @ TURKU Co-Organiser.

FESTIVAL: www.finfringe.fi

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Finfringe is a small, fully curated festival located in Turku, Finland. It has had five editions so far.

BIO:

I'm one of the founders and executive managers of the Finfringe festival in Turku. I also work as an actor, voice-over talent, and producer in the performing arts.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

It is vital to offer the audience interesting, mind-bending and pioneering performances at affordable ticket prices. Fringe serves as a platform for artists to experiment and think of performing arts in a new way.

ROLE: CEO

ORGANISATION: Great Minds Oy

ABOUT ORGANISATION:

Great Minds is a futures consulting company. We help our clients in projects or processes related to futures, innovation and change.

BIO:

Kirsi is an inventive and inspiring developer of future business and expertise. She is passionate about innovative new methods and tools. Kirsi is a positive coach and speaker who always has a plan B in her back pocket!

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

New ideas require arts, disruptive thinking and action. Today, more than ever, we need festivals such as Fringe to make the world a better place.

ROLE: Creative Director

FESTIVAL: Website coming soon!

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

“New Delhi Fringe" (NDF) will be the first Fringe festival in India.

OPur launch has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BIO:

An academic and actor, Kuljeet is the founder and director of Atelier Theatre, a New Delhi-based theatre organisation that uses theatre arts for social change.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

ROLE: Producer/Artist & WFC Keynote Speaker

FESTIVAL: Adelaide Fringe

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Adelaide Fringe is a world-renowned, annual arts festival that celebrates culture, place and artists from across the globe.

Bringing 6,000+ independent artists far and wide to South Australia, Adelaide Fringe is a destination for culture seekers in search for a hive of activity.

For 64 years, Fringe\'s innovative and inclusive approach as an open-access arts festival has made it a hub for emerging talent, as well as a destination for established artists from around the world. Among the audiences at Adelaide Fringe are hundreds of industry professionals from around the world, scouting for shows to book for future touring. This makes Adelaide Fringe a thriving marketplace for artists as well as a public facing festival.

Adelaide Fringe is a not-for-profit organisation that celebrates diversity and encourages a social cohesion through cultural exchange, bringing people together and providing a platform for artists to share their unique perspectives with a global audience.

BIO:

Kween Kong, founding director of the House of Kong and drag superstar, is known for her standout performance as a finalist on Drag Race Down Under Season 2. Beyond the drag scene, Kween Kong has showcased her talents as a Choreographer/Dancer during the Nelly Furtado Tour, proving she's not just a queen but a versatile entertainer

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe has always been a space that puts Art and Artists first. It is a space where independent artists can push boundaries, meet like-minded people and create work that pushes limits, challenges archetypes and, at the same time, makes art accessible to the general public.

ROLE: Co-Executive Director

FESTIVAL: www.hollywoodfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is an annual, open-access, community-derived event celebrating freedom of expression and collaboration in the performing arts community. For almost an entire month each June during the Hollywood Fringe, the arts infiltrate the Hollywood neighbourhood: fully equipped theatres, parks, clubs, bars, and other unexpected places host hundreds of productions by local, national, and international arts companies and independent performers.

Participation in the Hollywood Fringe is completely open and uncensored. This free-for-all approach underlines the festival’s mission to be a platform for artists without the barrier of a curating body. By opening the gates to anyone with a vision, the festival is able to exhibit the most diverse and cutting-edge points of view the world has to offer. Additionally, by creating an environment where artists must self-produce their work, the Fringe motivates its participants to cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurialism in the arts.

BIO:

Lois Neville (she/her) moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to further her performing arts education at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. After graduating, she began working in event production and found the perfect balance of event production and the performing arts with the Hollywood Fringe Festival. She started with HFF in 2010 as a volunteer and joined the staff in 2014. She has worked previously with HFF as the Partnership Director and is currently the organization’s Co-Executive Director and is responsible for planning and executing the festival’s operations and programming. Lois is also a choreographer and arts educator who has worked with organizations like The Florida State Thespians Festival and the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe allows independent artists a platform and community to learn, grow, connect, and further their artistic visions and careers. I believe that the Fringe provides something for everyone, be it new or veteran artists, and what makes the community truly special is that they all exist in the same place for a time to share knowledge, network, inspire, be inspired, and ideally grow beyond the fringe. It\'s an artist\'s playground and a launching pad that provides a platform to take control of their own success without the gatekeeping that exists elsewhere in the industry. At Fringe, you come as you are and be celebrated and uplifted!

ROLE: Volunteer Coordinator / Panel Member

FESTIVAL: www.colchesterfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Cam Abbott-Betts and Steve Goatman founded the Colchester Fringe festival in 2019. However, the pandemic prevented the first actual festival from taking place until October 2021.

Since then, the festival has grown year on year, attracting artists both locally and from all over the world. We are proudly a not-for-profit festival, as we want to support artists and develop our Fringe Festival for future years. So much so that we are extending our festival from 5 days to 10 this year, reaching into school holidays so we can add more family—and children' s-friendly shows to our programme.

We are committed to keeping ticket prices low and promoting underrepresented voices, including LGBTQ+, global majority, and disabled people, within our programme and festival team.

Everyone looks after each other, it’s a real community with Artists, Reviewers and Volunteers returning year on year and of course, we have lots of fun along the way.

BIO:

I discovered my love of Fringe when my son, at the age of 15 auditioned successfully for a local production that went on to play in Edinburgh. Cam, our Colchester Fringe Producer & Founder, happens to be my nephew, and I am proud to see what he has achieved in the last few years; it’s a pleasure to be involved. This is my fourth year with Colchester Fringe, and, as the Volunteer coordinator and panel member, it may be a busy role, but I love the team I have, and we will always welcome new members.

Why do I love Fringe? Fringe has opened my eyes to so much talent, I love the creativity and sometimes a little chaos that Fringe brings! It’s good to see so much versatility of acts, from quirky to funny, serious, sad, risky, contemporary, and more. Oh, and it keeps me young at heart! As one of the oldest on the team (actually, probably the oldest!), we may work hard, but we play hard, too, encouraging the artists to have fun and network. But we still deliver an excellent, professional festival day one day.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

It gives an open forum for under-represented communities and those starting in the arts world. It’s affordable for artists and spectators alike.

ROLE: Co-Director

FESTIVAL: www.gothenburgfringefestival.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Gothenburg Fringe is an explosion of creativity. Join us at unique and unexpected venues across the city for uncensored, cutting-edge performance art which stimulates, educates and entertains.

Gothenburg Fringe has always focused on its site-specific edge, using non-traditional spaces to bring the public closer to performing arts and allow artists to explore their work in new ways.

In 2023, the festival developed into a 10-day event, providing the people of Gothenburg with a festival experience like no other. In addition, Gothenburg Fringe holds two seasonal showcases to keep the community active and has focused on artist development, offering educational and performance opportunities for young and emerging artists in Sweden and abroad.

BIO:

My journey with Gothenburg Fringe started in 2020 as a spectator and continued in 2022 as a volunteer. Since 2024 I have been working in my new role as co-director, which I enjoy incredibly much. Alongside my involvement with the Gothenburg Fringe., I am completing a two-year program to graduate as an international cultural project manager. Originally from Germany, Gothenburg has been my home for about 5 years. Drinking coffee and reading books, especially crime novels, are two of my favourite pastimes.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is a place where all kinds of people, artists and audiences can meet and explore art and culture together. Fringe is thought-provoking and expands one\'s thinking. Fringe matters because it opens minds and brings people closer together.

ROLE: Festival Manager

FESTIVAL: www.newdelhifringe.in

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The festival plans to provide a platform to various theatre groups from all over India and help them gain international exposure. It further aims to bring the forgotten theatrical forms of India to the forefront.

BIO:

Mansi Grover has a doctorate in English (Disability Studies) and teaches English Literature at Delhi University. She strongly feels that theatre-in-education as a discipline has the potential to resolve the various practical and psychological issues concerning a child\'s growth and mental health. She has been working with Atelier Theatre for the past 6 years and takes care of training programmes. She is also an actor with Atelier Repertory Company and has acted in several plays across.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

We have attended two Fringe festivals (Edinburgh and Adelaide), and the exposure is immense.

ROLE: Member of the Board of Directors

FESTIVAL: www.orlandofringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Orlando Fringe a 33 year old is non-profit organization located in Orlando, FL. Its signature program is the Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival, the longest-running Fringe in the United States of America. The two-week event features typically involves around 200 titles more than 1,000 artists, and attracts upwards of 60,000 patrons, and has a $3.2 million impact on the local economy. In 2022, it expanded to include Fringe ArtSpace, a two-theatre complex in Downtown Orlando. There Fringe hosts and presents a wide array of both established and emerging performing and visual artists. Fringe also hosts The Collective, an incubator program for young producing organizations, through which Fringe provide mentorship, in-kind services, and financial subsidy to help Collective companies stage productions at Fringe ArtSpace.

BIO:

Hi friends! This will be my 6th time attending a WFC. I am a former Festival Producer and a current BOD member of Orlando Fringe, and I\'m a lifelong Fringe Artist. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones with you.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

It fosters original, innovative performing arts

and creates a community to help artists thrive.

ROLE: Executive Director/Producer

FESTIVAL: www.calgaryfringe.ca

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Calgary Fringe considers itself a “Boutique Fringe Festival” – it’s for a small group of people, exclusive, particular, not for all tastes. Boutique Festivals are usually located in smaller but privileged/found places: they are usually cosy corners within a neighbourhood and would include performance spaces like coffee shops, outdoor parks, dance halls, churches, and wine cellars. It’s for all those who are looking for a nice place with an eclectic mix of artistic performances and a good vibe with the rest of the attendees. The Boutique Fringe Festival is for true lovers of the Fringe who want to enjoy the moment, live a unique experience surrounded by similar people with whom to connect.

The Calgary Fringe Festival is sandwiched between the Winnipeg Fringe and the Edmonton Fringe, two of the largest Fringe Festivals on the Canadian Fringe touring circuit. Artists touring these two Fringe Festivals have the opportunity to earn some extra cash when performing at the Calgary Fringe Festival.

BIO:

Michele has been involved in the performing arts for over 40 years, first as a ‘triple threat’ theatre performer, choreographer, and director, then branching out to include artistic direction and production of the Calgary Fringe as Executive Director and Producer to her list of accomplishments. Michele has a deep, passionate love for everything Fringe and loves. Former President of CAFF.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe provides a voice to independent artists looking to showcase their own works and provides an opportunity for audiences to explore a wide variety of/being exposed to different artistic forms of expression.

ROLE: Access Consultant

FESTIVAL: www.sydneyfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Sydney Fringe has a bold vision to be celebrated as one of the world’s leading Fringe festivals, and we are well on our way! Each September, emerging artists and culture creators from all over the city join forces with us to share Sydney’s stories and present new work from all genres. Outside of festival time the Sydney Fringe works with public and private sector partners to activate unused space, drive policy and regulatory reform and advocate for independent artists to build a vibrant and sustainable arts, culture and creative industries sector. (More info via Kerri Glasscock’s profile

BIO:

An accomplished cultural leader, practitioner, consultant and facilitator with experience in government, the arts, not-for-profit and university sectors, Morwenna has worn the hats of CEO, Board Director, senior leadership team member, lecturer, researcher, trainer and advisor.

Based in Sydney, Morwenna is a specialist consultant in access, diversity, equity and inclusion and is deeply committed to working towards a future where everyone has equal access to participate in arts and culture and in society more broadly. Morwenna is acknowledged as an agent for change, sought after nationally and internationally for her expertise and drive. She has worked closely to support a range of large and small organisations to help them improve their practices, acting as a critical friend, challenger and cheerleader. Each engagement leads to a long-term positive impact, changing hearts and minds through her work on strategy, planning, policies, evaluation, thought leadership, discussion, and training.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe festivals are where unique art happens. Open access is so important. There\'s literally something for everyone.

ROLE: Executive Director

ORGANISATION: www.streathamspaceproject.co.uk

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Streatham Space Project is a Theatre, Music, Art, Dance & Comedy venue in Zone 3, south London. We celebrate the eclectic culture of south London and host creative events to bring people together from across our neighbourhood. We provide formative creative experiences for young people, working with schools and charities, and work with first-time and experienced South London artists and producers to help them develop work, connect it to audiences in our area, and support their careers.

BIO:

Natalie is a tenacious, innovative and energetic arts leader and producer based in Hong Kong and the UK; she was most recently Director and CEO for Kakilang.

Independent Producer credits include as Associate Producer for Best of Enemies in the West End and Producer for This Is Not A Show About Hong Kong, which won Fringe First and New Diorama Theatre and Underbelly’s Untapped Award in 2022.

As a committed change-maker to support fellow Global Majority arts leaders, she was an innovator and Agent for Change with Artistic Directors of the Future.

She’s also been Creative Producer for In Good Company, leading the Midlands’ artist development programme with 12 venues, and as General Manager for Creative Youth, where she has won the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy’s Giving Tuesday Competition for Digital Innovation for the charity.

Natalie also received the Blackbaud Scholarship to complete her Postgraduate Certificate in Philanthropic Studies at the University of Kent in 2022.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

The Fringe is a vital platform that enables artists to get their first chances of creating work, and showcasing in front of audiences, the busy, multiple show nature also fosters friendship between artists that leads to future collaboration I believe it plays a beautiful starting point for many careers and projects in our culture and ecology. It represents experimentation, playfulness, trying, failing and try again, which is very important in society.

ROLE: Futurist

ORGANISATION: Great Minds Oy

ABOUT ORGANISATION:

Great Minds is a futures consulting company. We help our clients in projects or processes related to futures, innovation and change.

BIO:

Niko is a passionate futurist, management consultant and key-note speaker with a special interest in the future of work and management, as well as technological innovations. As a sparring partner, he loves challenges and combines an optimistic atmosphere even with tricky questions.

ROLE: Festival Director

FESTIVAL: www.anywhere.is

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Anywhere is a company with a vision to put artists at the core of society and the top of the financial food chain and has created:

Anywhere Festival, a festival of performances anywhere but a theatre featuring 400 performances for 94,000 attendees in 89 locations throughout Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

The reimagined Fringe Brisbane in 2022, which supported 73 new works across genres and created a festival with more performances than the Brisbane Festival

Anywhere Fringe, merging the out-of-the-box thinking and nontraditional spaces of Anywhere Festival with the reimagining of Fringe Brisbane, will be a new festival happening July/August 2024.

BIO:

Paul Osuch is the founder of Anywhere, the creator of Anywhere Festival, and the reimagined Fringe Brisbane Festival and Anywhere Fringe.

In just two years, Anywhere Festival was named as one of the “Top Nine International Festivals You Must See” by QANTAS in their international publication. Paul was invited to the U.S., U.K. and Italy to advise on council cultural policies and implementation of performance and, as Festival Director, has helped develop 711 productions seen by over 600,000 people.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology and completed the Playwrights Studio at the National Institute for Dramatic Arts. He completed the Australia Council for the Arts 2012 Emerging Leadership Development Program and was selected for the inaugural cohort of the NIDA MfA in Cultural Leadership. In 2015 Paul was selected as a Queensland Government Cultural Champion.
He was Artistic Director of Borderline Defamation Productions for several years, producing and directing the world p

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

To provide a voice to the underrepresented and to encourage experimentation and new voices not possible in mainstream festivals.

ROLE: Artistic Director

FESTIVAL: www.newcastlefringe.com.au

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Newcastle Fringe was designed never to be too big. The idea is that we have limited shows being performed to a large population base, with the result being that the artists can make more money. We specifically target local acts with the hope being that this will be a stepping stone to further their careers. Bush Fringes is designed along the same lines. Our Fringes are all for the artists. At this year\'s Newcastle Fringe we had 43 acts doing 145 performances with an average of 36 audience to each performance. We have averaged between 36 - 40 audience per show for the last three years. For 2024, we have 83 shows registered.

BIO:

Professional theatre artist for 24 years.

I initiated the Newcastle (Aust) Fringe in 2016 and ran it by myself for four years. Now, it is a not-for-profit with people to help me.

Started Bush Fringes in 2021. Small festivals in regional cities.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

1 - To launch careers

2 - Opportunities for artists

3 - Create art as opposed to commercial crap

ROLE: Artistic Director

FESTIVAL: www.finfringe.fi

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

FINFRINGE is a non-profit organization, whose main objective is to organize Fringe festivals. We thrive for openness, building a sense of community and being environmentally friendly. We want to build the most comfortable, communal and interesting performance event in the Nordic countries right here in Turku.

BIO:

Founder of Finfringe

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

ROLE: Marketing Manager

FESTIVAL: www.finfringe.fi

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Finfringe is a small, curated festival located in the lovely city of Turku, Finland. Every May the festival spreads out in the city center, offering short performances for the everyday user, as well as for a more avid arts enthusiast.

BIO:

I'm a linguist by nature, an arts person at heart and an outspoken performer, you don't want to miss! At the moment, outside of Fringe, I am working as a cultural producer for the city of Kokkola, Finland.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is an amazing platform for artists and audience members alike, to perform or to experience art with a low threshold. Fringe often offers shows you cannot see elsewhere -- not in any conventional theatre, at least.

ROLE: AD, Brand Manager

FESTIVAL: www.finfringe.fi

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: FINFRINGE ry. was officially founded on 11.3.2018. Preparations for the first Finfringe festival started a couple of years before that. We learned the Fringe movement by working and visiting different Fringe festivals in Europe and North America. We wanted to bring to Finland an international festival calendar showcasing new performing arts ideas and to serve as a platform for performing arts cooperation in the Turku region. We have worked closely with Turku\'s professional theatres and other regional actors from the beginning. FINFRINGE ry has 16 members and a six-member board. During the festival period, dozens of volunteers are also involved.

BIO:

I am a 55-year-old graphic designer/AD from Parainen, Finland. I also work as a musician/vocal soloist in various groups and as a speaker/voice actor in various performances and voice-overs. My family includes my wife and my 18-year-old son.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Diversity, equality, internationalism, cultural sensitivity.

ROLE: Artistic director

FESTIVAL: www.oslofringe.no

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Oslo Fringe is run and hosted at SALT in Oslo, a festival hub with 6 stages. It is focused on forging a strong local free artist field and helping to establish the free field in Oslo. We also have around 10 international companies to exchange and inspire. We have a high focus on the artistic community and creating long-lasting relations.

BIO:

Former actor/director who co-started SALT, a rock' n'roll interdisciplinary cultural house for the local artists in Oslo. SALT programs 800 cultural events a year, with the Oslo Fringe as the main focus.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is the core of creating an exciting, free, inspiring arts scene and society.

ROLE: Associate Producer

FESTIVAL: www.pittsburghfringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: The Pittsburgh Fringe is an all-out, no-holds-barred, inclusive, multi-disciplinary performing arts festival featuring international, national and local artists. The festival will showcase theatre (physical, street, musical), comedy, visual arts, puppetry, family entertainment, music, dance, spoken word, opera, poetry, literature and shows we haven't even thought of yet! Pittsburgh Fringe strives to keep the festival accessible and affordable to artists (low application and participation fees) and audiences with affordable tickets, special free programming, \see-as-much-as-you-want\" passes.

BIO:

Sophie McClung is a multidisciplinary theatre artist originally from South Florida, USA. As a theatre-maker, Sophie specializes in devised theatre, projection design, directing, and choreography. She also works as a freelance marketing designer and producer, particularly interested in new work and Fringe festivals! She is dedicated to serving the theatre world and beyond as a collaborator, creative player, and artistic innovator.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

To me, Fringe is a hub of creativity and innovation for artists and a global community united in cherishing creative expression. It\'s like playing make-believe in your backyard, a place to create something new together and share it with others... what\'s not to love? Fringe serves as a beacon of celebration and hope in the future of art in every community it represents so that the world never forgets the importance of the arts to our humanity.

ROLE: Client Executive

ORGANISATION: www.tysers.com/tyserslive

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION:

Tysers Live is a market-leading insurance broker for the entertainment and sports industry. We arrange cover for some of the biggest worldwide events in the calendar and insure some of the most prestigious international artists.

Tysers Live has a wealth of experience in the world of theatre and festivals which means we truly understand the nature of the risks you face. Our team of experienced brokers can advise the best cover for your needs to ensure you have the right protection in place and provide unique and innovative solutions. . We cover a range of events from national tours and local festivals to worldwide tours and international performances as well as offering an online insurance facility encoreinsure.com to assist with all of your participants production insurance needs. www.encoreinsure.com - a step by step, easy to follow, one stop solution, with access available to your account 24/7, everything can be processed at a time convenient to you.

BIO:

I have been with Tysers Insurance Brokers for five years as a Client Executive. I work within the Theatre team, looking after new business and creating and growing our partnerships.

I have ten years dance experience and have been part of West End Productions. I am passionate about understanding and catering for our theatre clients, ensuring that all needs become a reality.

Having a variety of connections within the Festival & Event insurance sector, I am eager to be a part of fringe and help support the artists in their creations. I have extensive knowledge in Cancellation Cover, Public Liability, Employers Liability, Equipment Hire, Professional Indemnity, Property Damage and various other types of cover which I can cater to the individual’s needs.

Another aspect of my job involves promoting Encoreinsure which is a specialised platform for all those involved in the performing arts sector. Producers and performers can access this website designed to obtain quick quotes based on the risks they require on a s

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is a place where artists have the space to create and be supported to experiment their art without fear of judgement and the upmost acceptance. Fringe is inclusive of audiences, funders, artists and venues that collaborate in a creative space to bring a distinctive and organic occasion. Fringe matters to those who aspire their artistic creations to be outside the box within a community that encourages this.

ROLE: Founder & Technical Director

FESTIVAL: www.elginfringefestival.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The mission of the Elgin Fringe Festival is to encourage bold artistic experimentation and innovation by providing an accessible, affordable experience for both artists and audiences alike.

BIO:

Founder and Director of Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin, IL. Tanner brings an eclectic background that includes a B.A. in Theater with an emphasis in acting and design and a M.S. in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration with an emphasis in experiential education and interpretive programming, both from Western Illinois University (WIU). In 2012, he worked at Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab, UT as a Seasonal Interpretive Specialist, incorporating these experiences into the education and outreach programming within Side Street. Currently, Tanner is the project coordinator for the future home of Side Street Studio Arts and the Elgin Fringe Festival, working to facilitate the design and buildout for the new location opening in 2024. As Technical Director of the Elgin Fringe Festival, Tanner is excited to begin planning the 11th annual festival for 2024.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe is essential for performers and visual artists to showcase their work without the heavy responsibilities of producing a show on their own. It encourages possibility and opportunity.

ROLE: Sales Manager

FESTIVAL: www.finfringe.fi

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

FINFRINGE was officially founded on 11.3.2018. Preparations for the first FINFRINGE festival started a couple of years before that. We got to know the Fringe movement by working and visiting different Fringe festivals in Europe and North America. We wanted to bring to Finland an international festival calendar showcasing new performing arts ideas and to serve as a platform for performing arts cooperation in the Turku region. From the beginning, we have worked closely with Turku\'s professional theatres and other regional actors. FINFRINGE ry has 16 members and a six-member board. During the festival period, dozens of volunteers are also involved.

BIO:

Urbana Art is my passion. Huge Fringe Fan.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Important for everyone, diversity

ROLE: Festival Producer

FESTIVAL: www.orlandofringe.org

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Since 1992, Orlando Fringe has provided a space and opportunity for artists to emerge and showcase their talents and craft. The Orlando Fringe produces The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, the longest-running Fringe in the United States, which strives to be unjuried, uncensored, accessible for artists and audiences alike, with 100% of ticket sales given back to the artists.

BIO:

Tempestt’s passion for the arts, circus, and entertainment industries drew her toward a career working with Fringe Festivals. Her administrative skillset helps artists achieve the impossible when creative exploration leads to tangible results.

As a 2009 Orlando Fringe Festival performer, her experience informed love for the event, the organizers, and the festival’s role in the Central Florida arts community. In 2013, she co-founded her own circus production company, FunDipped Productions LLC, where she co-wrote, produced, and performed in contemporary circus shows. Having accrued years of experience across multiple disciplines, Tempestt is uniquely qualified in her role as the Festival Producer and is proud to be able to support the grand visions and small, personal touches that make the Orlando Fringe experience special

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Fringe festivals matter for a multitude of reasons. They provide a platform for emerging artists, promote inclusivity and diversity, democratize access to the arts, and stimulate economic growth. By fostering creativity, celebrating diversity, and enriching communities, fringe festivals play a vital role in shaping the cultural landscape and promoting social and artistic vitality. As such, these events deserve recognition and support for the invaluable contributions they make to society.

ROLE: President

FESTIVAL: www.azoresfringe.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

MiratecArts manages an open-air art gallery and four international festivals: Montanha (January), Azores Fringe (May-June), Cordas World Music Festival (October) and AnimaPIX (December). Azores Fringe Festival has welcomed over 2500 artists from 64 countries to the island of Pico, the epicentre of Fringe.

BIO:

Terry Costa is a multidisciplinary artist, stage director and producer of events and arts festivals. His work has reached 47 countries. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, he founded MiratecArts and \the most remote\" Fringe Festival while developing arts on the islands of the Azores with the intent to take it to the rest of the world.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Because all are welcome!

ROLE: Managing Director, Tysers Live

ORGANISATION: Tysers Live

ABOUT ORGANISATION:

Based in London, Tysers it the oldest Lloyd’s of London broker coming up to 205 years old. Part of Tysers, is Tysers Live, which is one of the largest Entertainment and Media insurance brokers in the world. We focus on all areas of the entertainment end media business across the globe. We categorise our business areas into the following:

Theatres and Productions

Music and Live Events

Media, Film and TV

Advertising and Commercials

BIO:

I am the Managing Director at Tysers Live, and responsible for the overall strategic development of the Entertainment and Media insurance. I have worked in Entertainment and Media insurance for seven years following a few years looking after other classes of insurance. I am attending the World Fringe in order to develop and share my knowledge of the Entertainment Industry and specifically how this can relate to risk management and mitigation, alongside providing a gateway to our policies that are available across the globe.

WHY DOES THE FRINGE MATTER?

My passion is not insurance, but the sector that Tysers Live serves. The creative and entertainment industries are not only a vital part of the world economy, but they provide a level of social interaction and cohesion that few other sectors can, in live environments. I am passionate about developing the entertainment industries with our clients and we work to ensure that this is done alongside the expertise that my colleagues and I can bring.

ROLE: Founder & Coordinator

ORGANISATION: Free Expression DRC

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION:

Free Expression DRC is a Congolese cultural organization created by one of the association's active members on July 14, 2010, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The organization\'s objectives are to support the development of culture in general in Congo and to promote artistic creation in particular; thus cultural and artistic activities are used by Free Expression DRC as communication vectors for the implementation of some projects regarding social-political issues, development, education or humanitarian actions, etc.

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES OF THE PAST TEN YEARS

- In December 2020, January 2021 and January 2023 Free Expression organized panels on the theme of the Music Industry of the 21st century in 3 cultural centres in the city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo in collaboration with local cultural partners such as the Contemporary Arts Platform, Malafi\'Arts Production, Aw\'art, Laziir and Afro Urban Mouvement.

BIO:

Born on January 30, 1984 in Kinshasa, capital of the former Zaire and the current Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the dictatorial regime of Marshal Mobutu, Tito Biteketa is a cultural entrepreneur of Congolese origin and founder of Free Expression DRC (a Congolese cultural organisation).

A graduate of the National Institute of Arts (INA) in Kinshasa, he has been based in Stockholm, Sweden since 2018. He trained in innovative event management at B Group – Talent

development & consulting, one of the largest professional training structures of the creative industry in Scandinavia, more specifically in Sweden and Denmark.

Tito has knowledge of the culture and interests of young people in general. His expertise lies particularly in the music industry and in hip-hop culture. He also has around 13 years of experience in events, having worked in several vital festivals in his country.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

I think that Fringe is already essential for its unifying character, and I find that its participatory approach allows global inclusion, allowing all cultural actors, as well as artists from around the world who wish to contribute to the development of each edition, to participate. Fringe is an exciting event as much as it is a platform for opening opportunities to convey artistic creation.

ROLE: Production Assistant

FESTIVAL: www.finfringe.fi

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Finfringe is Turku's city festival for short performances. The performances are chosen through an international open call.

FINFRINGE ry is a non-profit organization, whose main objective is to organize Fringe festivals. We thrive for openness, building a sense of community and being environmentally friendly. We want to build the most comfortable, communal and interesting performance event in the Nordic countries right here in Turku.

Seen from a worldwide perspective, Fringe is a performance event movement that started in Edinburgh in 1947. Finfringe is part of a 300-event festival group. At Finfringe, you can experience a wide variety of performing arts: theater, dance, circus art, performances, stand-up comedy, street performances, and a blend of all the different genres.

Finringe is to performing arts what rock festivals are to band gigs—during a concentrated period of time, you can experience several interesting and new, mind-bending and pioneering performances at affordable ticket prices.

BIO:

I am a creative cultural manager and ace customer service representative who is passionate about people and their stories. Knee-deep in all things culture, I excel in enabling culture, arts, and cultural production. As a competent organiser, I am a great Jane of all trades in festival settings (for instance).

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

Alternative stories must be told, and fringe festivals provide an excellent and essential platform, environment and community for these stories.

ROLE: Executive Director

FESTIVAL: www.szfringe.org/en

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Shenzhen Fringe Festival was set up in 2010; as a member of the World Fringe family, Shenzhen Fringe Festival has become an international art and culture platform which spreads art power and creative energy continuously while providing interactive chances for domestic and foreign artists. The Shenzhen Fringe Festival is a ‘free and easy’ art festival which sets its main stages on streets and squares. We’re searching for a method to blend fringe arts into people’s daily lives. Compared with the mainstream and mature art festival, Shenzhen Fringe Festival emphasizes creativity and surprises, advocates universal participation and develops modern art, integrates urban life in varied forms and implements the concept of ‘Art Everyone, Stage Everywhere.’ This is not a general art festival. Fringe is the festival for you and me.

BIO:

A seasoned Art Executive Director with a comprehensive background in musicology from Xinghai Conservatory of Music. Over the years, I have been dedicated to the curation, organization, and management of cross-cultural art projects. I bring expertise in team leadership, project development, and execution. I maintain robust international relationships with cultural institutions and have a proven track record of successful cultural exchange and societal contribution projects.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

The word ‘Fringe’ has the meaning of the outer or less important part of an area or group or activity, which was the positioning statement of the groups for themselves, and Fringe had finally turned out to succeed and acquired a large popularity. Fringe Festival has therefore developed over 77 years and become one of the largest and most popular at events in the world. The spirit of Fringe follows the idea of being open and free, concerned with the unique and diversification, finding out the potential of the art and bringing more imaginary possibilities with no boundaries.

ROLE: Founder

ORGANISATION: equ

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION:

Based in Perth, Western Australia, equ creates world-class websites and apps for leading organisations, including the Perth and Edinburgh Fringe festivals.

BIO:

I am the founder and CEO of equ, which has created a customer app that is currently used by both the Perth and Edinburgh Fringe festivals. I have decided to attend the World Fringe Congress to learn more about the Fringe ecosystems by meeting and building relationships with festival organisers worldwide. In doing this, I would like to better understand the key pain points and opportunities where technology can assist festivals in thriving and growing.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?

As the world’s most isolation capital city, the Perth Fringe festival provides a critical outlet for diverse artistic expression and an essential platform for emerging artists to foster creativity, experimentation and innovation within their chosen artistic endeavour.

ROLE: Executive Director
FESTIVAL: www.pittsburghfringe.org

ABOUT FESTIVAL:

The Pittsburgh Fringe is an all-out, no-holds-barred, inclusive, multi-disciplinary performing arts festival featuring international, national, and local artists since 2014. Pittsburgh Fringe is one of the few “Edinburgh Model” fringe festivals in North America, and strives to keep the festival accessible and affordable to artists (low application and participation fees) and audiences with affordable tickets, special free programming, "see-as-much-as-you-want" passes, and other discounts like our button discount).

BIO:

Xela Batchelder, Ph.D., started fringing at the Edinburgh Fringe, where she ran a mid-sized venue for 13 years, and still today continues to produce regularly in Edinburgh. These experiences became the basis of her doctoral dissertation on the mechanics of the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as the beginning of her interest and research in other Fringe Festivals around the world. She is also the Executive Director of Fringe University, a program designed to educate undergraduates and graduate students by using the Edinburgh Fringe as a classroom. She has consulted with various US Fringes, and was a co-founder and Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Fringe for the past 11 years old. She has been contributing material from fringes worldwide to the archive at the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute at The Ohio State University to keep the history of fringes around the world alive for future researchers. Currently, she is also starting work on a documentary about fringes around the world.

WHY DO YOU THAT FRINGE MATTERS?:

It gives everyone a chance to perform, and allows artist to sidestep the gatekeepers of art.

ROLE: Founder of Stockholm Fringe Festival (Stoff), House of Producers & ARENA STOFF, WFC 2024 Producer

FESTIVAL: www.stockholmfringe.com & www.arenastoff.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Stockholm Fringe Festival (STOFF) is a seven-day multidisciplinary arts festival that acts as a ‘stage’ for local and international artists to present their innovative work, ranging from performance to installation art and anything in between.

BIO:

Over 20 year’s experience in project and event management for festival operations, theatre production, touring, business development, digital innovation team development and leadership. Previous experience has mainly been on an international level with assignments in the UK, Australia and the Nordics to name a few.

My fringe journey started in conjunction with creating a production together with Lina Karlmark (co-founder Stoff) during our time studying for a Master of Performance Research in London in 2002. The finished piece became a success and was selected to perform at the Riverside studios, an incentive which became a spark towards searching for new platforms to show the work. As we had connections in Australia, trying it out at the Melbourne Fringe Festival was an easy choice. We gathered all student loans and left with luggage full of costumes and props to audition actors upon arrival. With much help from friends and, of course, a brilliant local production manager (Adam Potrykus, who lived in Melbourne at the time), we had a thrilling three-week run and left Australia with an award, life-changing experiences and several new connections. Most im

portantly, the fringe bug had given us an urge for more, and we set a plan for our next ventures. While learning more about the fringe, it became clear how incredibly needed this platform was in the Nordics, where performance possibilities for emerging artists have always been extremely limited. We felt someone probably would grace our region with a Fringe soon and decided to wait for it to bloom in Sweden. Eventually, in 2009, we got bored waiting and knew it was us who had to give it a go.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

From an artist and a festival director perspective, I believe the key strength of the Fringe is its enabling force. The fringe movement was born through an organic revolution against the order, and in this way, it keeps giving life to so many new voices, meetings, developments, and experiences without being tied down to certain rules of expectations or political frameworks. The Fringe is a persevering, responsive organism that proudly raises its fist to uphold a diverse cultural democracy.

ROLE: Founding Director Stockholm Fringe Festival (STOFF) & ARENA STOFF + Baltic Nordic Fringe Network & WFC 2024 Producer

FESTIVAL: www.stockholmfringe.com & www.balticnordicfringenetwork.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Stockholm Fringe Festival (STOFF) is a seven-day multidisciplinary arts festival that acts as a ‘stage’ for local and international artists to present their innovative work, ranging from performance to installation art and anything in between.

BIO:

My FRINGE journey started in 1983 when our neighbours in Gdansk(PL) gave me a custom-built puppet theatre. It stayed with me when we migrated to Sweden. Ten years later, I got accepted to THELISI - School for Young Stage Art (Stockholm) where I met STOFF Co-founders Helena Bunker & Lina Karlmark. Many pretentious stage shows later via TV Production internships in Gdansk/Warsaw/Dublin; I ended up in Melbourne, where I studied FILM while engaging in music touring. I moved back to Europe in 2010 and joined troops with H&L, launching STOFF, by the adventure that was Helenas and Lina’s Melbourne Fringe Stint.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege to be part of a growing Baltic Nordic Fringe movement that includes the launch of the Bergen and Gothenburg Fringe festivals and the subsequent launch of the Baltic Nordic Fringe Network, which today includes 11 unique festivals in 7 countries. Read more about them here. Aside from all this fringe business, I’m engaged with the House of Producers (HOP). My “daytime” job is promoting Sweden to the world. This year, we host the World Fringe Congress, a gathering of our peers from across the 300 festival-strong World Fringe community.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE FRINGE MATTERS?:

The Fringe is mood, a climate, a whole ecosystem that feeds from the grassroots to the top of the cultural sphere and beyond.

The fringe allows people to be heard, seen and appreciated at all stages of their development and artistic journey.

The fringe activates artists, cities and its audiences unexpectedly while encouraging the brave, bold and uncompromising to carve out their place in spaces that aren’t usually designed for them.

Many years ago a famous Hollywood actor visited our festival with a significant production. When asked to write something about the Fringe for our program and merch, he wrote:

“That is the power of genuine art, because genuine art touches you deep inside of yourself and reaches regions your soul you would never have dreamed of calling your own” - John Malkovich / The Infernal Comedy