Fringe Society undertakes mass feedback drive post-Fringe 2022

29 September 2022

Following the close of Fringe 2022, the Fringe Society is undertaking a massive drive – its biggest in years – to gather feedback from across the Fringe landscape.

Skip to the surveys

Background

Fringe 2022 was a landmark year for many reasons – as well as being the festival’s 75th anniversary, it was also the first Fringe to return at something approaching full strength following the pandemic. We also announced our new vision for the Fringe in June – to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat – alongside development goals to ensure the long-term renewal of the Fringe.

There should be no doubt that the Fringe – and the wider arts sector – is still in recovery, and that there were issues at Fringe 2022 that need to be addressed. We’ve been participating in those conversations throughout the year, and continue to do so; we also feel that this moment – with August still fresh in our collective memory – is the ideal time to gather robust data about how we improve going forward.

This has been a year of unique challenges, and we're keen to learn from everyone's experiences: we’re seeking input from artists, audiences, venues, producers, workers, community groups, arts industry delegates, media and those with access needs. Over the next fortnight we’ll be inviting insight and detail on a range of topics, from the recent Fringe experience to accommodation costs, barriers to participation, and the work of the Fringe Society. 

The detailed surveys will provide data to support the team on convening the right partners to address these topical issues; to bring together the right people and partnerships to work towards solutions, and advocate for greater support to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Fringe.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “This year’s festival was the first step on the road to recovery and we know the biggest challenge is the next three years. It’s important that we gather evidence and case studies from our Fringe participants so that we can ensure the Society is armed with the facts and best equipped to make the case for where improvements can be made in advance of Fringe 2023. We encourage everyone to take time to complete the survey specific to them and to provide as much information as they can.”

Here are some of the steps we’re taking to hear from you:

Artists

  • The cost of accommodation for Fringe participants was one of the main issues raised at this year’s Fringe. We’ve already sent out a form via email and social media specifically asking for data around this topic, and the form is now closed.

  • Our wider artists’ survey addresses a range of topical issues raised, including the Fringe app, the printed programme and more, and is being sent to registered artists from the past three Fringes via email. We're working with Scotinform, an independent research company, and your data will be anonymous unless you choose otherwise, so please be open with your response. To give you more time to feedback, we have extended the Fringe artist survey to close on 30 October, and we will aim to share results before the end of the year.

  • If you're a Fringe artist, you or a member of your company should have received an email link to the survey on Thursday 29 September; if you didn't, please email [email protected] – you can also use this email if you don't want to complete the survey but do wish to submit feedback.

  • Some artists have also received an email regarding their participation in the Children and Young People ticketing scheme this year – if you've received this email, please let us know your thoughts on the scheme, and thanks once again for being part of it. Find out more about the Children and Young People ticketing scheme.


Audiences

  • As with the artists’ survey, we're working with independent research firm Scotinform to gather wide-ranging feedback on this year’s Fringe from an audience perspective – covering topics such as e-ticketing, the printed programme, the app and more. Your data will be anonymous unless you choose otherwise, so please feel free to speak your mind. The survey will run until Sunday 23 October, and we will aim to share results before the end of the year.

    The audience survey is now closed for 2022. 

    If you want to send us further feedback, please email [email protected].


Access

  • The data we're gathering in our artist and audience surveys will be used as a foundation for further research in the coming months into improving access at the Fringe. We're currently in the process of exploring the most accessible methods of conducting this research.

Festival workers and volunteers, and venues 

  • We’re following up on our commitment to hold a Fringe workers’ survey every two years  – if you worked or volunteered at this year's Fringe (but not as part of a specific production, ie a Fringe artist), we want to hear from you. As with our other surveys, your data will be anonymous unless you choose otherwise, so please feel free to be honest about your experiences. To give you more time to feedback, we have extended the Fringe workers survey to close on 30 October.

Complete the Fringe 2022 workers survey

  • If you represent a venue, you'll receive an email link to our venue-specific survey next week; if you haven't received it by Monday 10 October, please email [email protected]. You can also use this email if you don't want to do the survey but do want to submit feedback.

  • If you don't want to do the survey but do want to submit feedback, please email [email protected].


Media and arts industry

  • If you're a member of the media, you should already have received a survey via email; we'll also be following up with one-to-one meetings in the coming weeks. If you didn't receive an email, please get in touch with [email protected] – you can also use this email if you don't want to do the survey but do want to submit feedback.

  • If you're a member of the arts industry, you should receive a survey link via email today (Thursday 29 September). If you haven't received one, or you'd prefer to deliver feedback directly, please email [email protected].

  • We attended a producers' feedback session during August and are conducting feedback sessions with various arts industry groups, including associates, producers forum, showcases and festival delegation organisers.


Edinburgh communities  

We're listening. This is your chance to directly help us discern what should be our priorities for Fringe 2023 and beyond.

Thank you.

 

Thumbnail photo credit: Godot is a Woman (2022), Pleasance. Photographer: David Monteith-Hodge.