Events are open to all Fringe artists, accredited professionals and Fringe project participants.
This year, the Fringe Central programme is made up of three key strands:
- Learn: events focused on learning something new from one of our partners
- Develop: events focused on professional development, looking beyond the Fringe and making connections
- Connect: sessions focused on connecting with your Fringe community
Access the full Fringe Central programme and sign up to events on Fringe Connect.
Artists, arts industry and media will once again all be within one central and fully accessible space, at the Grassmarket Centre, 86 Candlemaker Row, in partnership with the Grassmarket Community Project.
Helene van der Ploeg, Chief Executive Officer of Grassmarket Community Project, said ‘We are absolutely delighted to be again collaborating with the Fringe Society this year, to host their Fringe Central Hub, supporting the many exceptional artists taking part in the Festival, alongside all those involved in the arts industry and the media. Our values of being inclusive and supportive are so closely aligned with the aims of the Fringe; we really looking forward to offering a very warm welcome to everyone attending the Hub, whether it be to access advice and guidance, a catch up with friends, or just take a break!’
Coffee Saints, Grassmarket Community Project’s cafe, will remain open to the public and will provide a discount to Fringe participants. Grassmarket Community Project will also be continuing to run their weekly Open Door Meals every Wednesday evening.
Artists can access our services, meet fellow artists or just grab tea or coffee and relax. We're working with local mental health charity Health in Mind for a third year to provide mental health and wellbeing support. Services, available from end of May, will include one-hour person-centred support sessions, tailored to the artist's needs, providing an opportunity to explore any difficulties artists are having while in Edinburgh. For further information on these services, send us an email at [email protected].
We offer year-round support and services for Fringe artists, including advice on connecting with industry, marketing and communications advice, guidance on audience engagement; and how to resolve any challenges they may be having. These services will be available in person at Fringe Central throughout August.
Arts industry and the media provide artists with opportunities to increase their profile and progress their careers beyond the festival. Industry and media can access our ticketing and accreditation services, and meet with our Arts Industry and Media teams, while benefitting from a quiet place to work. The popular Meet the Media event will also return to the Informatics Forum at the University of Edinburgh, giving artists the opportunity to pitch their show to reviewers and journalists.
Industry professionals can accredit and gain access to a host of services to support their time at the Fringe. From panel events and networking opportunities to programme insights and advice, arts industry can receive tailored assistance from the team to enable them to discover work and connect with talent, getting Fringe artists on stages and screens outside of the festival.
Our digital platform showcasing professional Fringe shows, Fringe Marketplace, is now available to accredited industry with a new selection of work that's ready to be shared beyond the festival and Screen Fringe, a bespoke festival concierge service and events programme for accredited delegates from TV and film will return for 2025.
Chris Snow, Head of Artist Services, said: ‘We're delighted to be working again with two brilliant Edinburgh-based charities, Grassmarket Community Project and Health in Mind, to deliver this year's Fringe Central, after fantastic feedback from the thousands of Fringe participants who accessed our events and services last August.'
'Grassmarket Community Project does outstanding work for vulnerable people in Edinburgh year-round, and we’re incredibly thankful to them and their members for sharing their home with the Fringe community for another year. We're also working with Health in Mind for the third year running, and couldn't have a better partner to help put mental health and wellbeing support right at the heart of our services for Fringe artists'
'We look forward to welcoming and meeting artists, arts industry, media and project partners to Fringe Central this August to find community, take a breather, and access our support.'
