Delegates from Fringe festivals across the globe will descend upon Adelaide in 2020 when the city hosts the biennial Fringe World Congress.
The formal gathering of international Fringe representatives, directors and organisers will visit Adelaide during the Adelaide Fringe Festival (February 14 to March 15) to share ideas and network.
It will be the first time since its establishment in 2012 that the World Fringe Congress has been held somewhere in the southern hemisphere, with past gatherings occurring in Edinburgh and Montreal.
Adelaide Fringe, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2020, is the second largest ticketed arts festival in the world after Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Adelaide Fringe director and CEO Heather Croall says winning the bid to host the World Congress is a major coup for South Australia’s arts community.
“We’re delighted that we’ll be celebrating Adelaide Fringe’s 60th anniversary with the worldwide Fringe family by hosting the congress in 2020,” she says.
A Fringe show promoter in Adelaide’s Garden of Unearthly Delights. Photo by Trentino Priori.
“The congress will be a great platform for our festival to increase its international exposure while also raising the profile of SA as an arts destination.
“Adelaide Fringe is the party that defines our city and we want everyone to be able to experience the festival’s vibrancy and transformative power for themselves.”
World Fringe managing director Holly Lombardo says she is delighted the next congress will be held in Adelaide.
“This will be the fifth global meet of Fringe directors like this, and after destinations like Edinburgh and Montreal it is right and fitting that it’s going to the southern hemisphere – especially for Adelaide Fringe’s 60th,” she says.
“I know Adelaide Fringe will be perfect hosts for such a wonderful conference of international Fringes and I look forward to being part of it.”
Last year’s Adelaide Fringe was a record breaker with artists selling 705,761 tickets worth $16.6 million. More than $15 million landed directly into the pockets of artists and venues, thanks to the abolishment of inside charges.
Adelaide Fringe also attracted more than 20,000 interstate and international visitors last year, up 8% on 2017, delivering $29.5 million for the state. Gross expenditure related to the 2018 Fringe hit a record $90.6 million.
Click here to view the 2019 Adelaide Fringe guide.
Header photo by Tony Virgo features the Fringe Wives Club.