The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society was founded by artists to nurture and uphold the Fringe's values of inclusivity, experimentation and imagination.

The founding principle at the heart of the Fringe is to be an open access festival that accommodates anyone with a desire to perform and a venue willing to host them. No single individual or committee determines who can or cannot perform at the Fringe; the Fringe Society does not run any venues or programme any performers.

The Fringe Society has three core objectives:

  • Provide support, advice and encouragement to all participants.
    The Fringe Society supports and encourages anyone who wants to take part – all the amazing artists, producers, venues, arts industry professionals and members of the media. From choosing a venue to creating a successful marketing campaign, the Fringe Society is on hand all year round with one-to-one tailored advice, events, facilities and online resources.
     
  • Assist audiences to navigate what’s on offer.
    The Fringe Society provides ticketing through a centralised box office, offering tickets to every show on the Fringe, and a wealth of information via the official Fringe programme, website and mobile app. We continuously improve and expand our services to ensure the best possible experience for Fringe audiences, and reach out via our community, learning and access initiatives to ensure that everyone who wants to attend the Fringe is able to.
     
  • Celebrate the Fringe and what it stands for all over the world.
    The Fringe Society markets the Fringe in its entirety – locally, nationally and internationally – to participants, the public, media and arts industry to retain its position as the world’s leading arts festival. As well as delivering a high-profile annual marketing and media campaign, the Society works closely with media outlets all over the world to maximise publicity for the Fringe. 

Our Senior Management Team oversees the work of the year-round Fringe Society staff:

Shona McCarthy

Shona McCarthy
Chief Executive

Lyndsey Jackson

Lyndsey Jackson
Deputy Chief Executive

Jane Colton

Jane Colton
Head of Box Office Services

Westaly Duignan

Westaly Duignan
Head of Fundraising and Development

Susan Russell
Head of Marketing, Communications and Sponsorship

Chris Snow

Chris Snow
Head of Artist Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fringe Society is a registered charity that relies on the support of people like you to continue our work supporting artists, assisting audiences and celebrating the Fringe and what it stands for all over the world. Please help us by donating.