Alan Cumming in call to support Fringe artists and venues, as bonus AJ Bell Fringe on Friday show released
04 September 2020
Performer and Fringe legend Alan Cumming has shared a powerful new video message, urging support for the artists and venues that make the Edinburgh Festival Fringe happen every year.
The call – shared via the FringeMakers page on Crowdfunder – comes with just three days left for the central artists and venues recovery fund to meet its £75,000 target. At time of writing, the total sat at just over £62,500 – leaving a final £12,500 to be raised over the weekend. The fundraising page will close on Monday 07 September at 09:00.
Across the Fringe landscape, over £250,000 has been raised by individual venues and artists. In distributing the targeted £75,000 from the central artists and venues recovery fund, the Fringe Society will work closely with a panel of experts, with this process starting as soon as possible.
Speaking in the video, Cumming says: “The Fringe not taking place for the first time in 73 years has been devastating for the countless artists, venues, creatives, workers and small businesses who pour their blood, sweat and tears into creating what is the greatest celebration of arts and culture on our planet.
“The thousands of artists and venues who made up the Fringe really need your help and support to ensure that we can come back stronger than ever in 2021. These people make your Fringe, and we need to help them.
“You can help ensure that there is a Fringe to come back to by getting involved with the Edinburgh Festival FringeMakers campaign. Every penny goes towards supporting Fringe artists and venues. Please dig deep and donate now... by visiting crowdfund.edfringe.com.”
The call comes as a bonus highlights edition of AJ Bell Fringe on Friday is released. The show features a selection of acts programmed as part of August’s Friday night broadcasts, and is a chance to catch up with performances from Fringe artists Le Gateau Chocolat, Tiff Stevenson, Briefs, Diane Chorley, Bernie Dieter, Sarah Keyworth, Reuben Kaye, Todd Various, Donald Alexander, Kid_X and Stiff & Kitsch.
While there is no fixed price to access the show, audience members are being encouraged to donate whatever they can to the fund, with 100% of proceeds going to Fringe artists and venues.