In addition to being a great place for audiences to see shows, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an important international annual meeting-point for those working in the arts industry. In 2025, industry representatives from 68 countries came to Edinburgh in search of new work for their platforms, and to meet with colleagues to exchange insights, address the evolving landscape of the arts sector and build resilience through collaboration.
On 20 August, a sold-out audience gathered for ISPA’s 2025 Series at the Fringe, presented with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. This event’s theme was Sustaining International Collaboration in the Arts, bringing together arts service organisations from around the world — ISPA, the Fringe Society, APAP, CAPACOA, CINARS, PAC Australia and PANNZ — to explore how international collaboration can thrive in the years ahead.
The forum featured input from:
- Ahmed El Attar (Artistic and General Director, Arab Arts Focus, Egypt), who delivered a thought-provoking opening
- Tony Lankester (CEO, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Scotland), who moderated the discussion
- Tzu-Yin Hsu (International Booking Agent, Aurora Nova, Taiwan / Germany)
- Colleen Jennings-Roggensack (Executive Director of ASU Gammage, United States)
- Victor Rodger (Playwright, Producer, Actor, Journalist, Aotearoa New Zealand)
We are delighted that so many were able to join us for this event. For those who were unable to join us on the day, you can watch the full session below:
We would like to thank Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and its Event team for their generous support and use of Greyfriars Hall.
In collaboration with:
- ISPA – International Society for the Performing Arts
- APAP – Association of Performing Arts Professionals
- CAPACOA – Canadian Association for the Performing Arts
- CINARS – Conférence internationale des arts de la scene
- PAC Australia – Performing Arts Connections Australia
- PANNZ – Performing Arts Network New Zealand
