Are you aged 18 – 26? Get involved with Fringe Central 2020

We’re already making plans for the 2020 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and that includes putting together the events programme for Fringe Central – the Fringe Society’s hub for everyone participating in the festival. We try to involve as many different voices as possible to help us do it, which is why we created the Fringe Central Youth Panel.

The Panel provides invaluable experience for young people with an interest in event curation and programming. You’ll learn how to develop an events programme from concept to delivery, getting valuable insights into every aspect including curation, relationship management, administration, project management and marketing. You’ll also have the opportunity to get involved in the proposal, delivery and evaluation of an event at Fringe Central.

The programme provides a unique chance to learn about arts organisations across the UK and around the world, and the opportunities they offer Fringe artists.

We’re looking for five young people aged 18 to 26 to help us create the programme from November 2019 through to April 2020. This is an opportunity primarily for young people based in Edinburgh, which is where the activity will take place, but there is some support available for successful applicants able to travel from other locations in Scotland.

READ THE 2019 FRINGE CENTRAL EVENTS PROGRAMME FOR MORE INFORMATION

What is Fringe Central?

Fringe Central is a space dedicated to supporting participants during the Fringe, facilitating career development and providing a platform for important discussion through workshops, seminars, activities and networking opportunities. In 2019, we offered over 100 professional development events.

‘Being on the panel has been a really special experience. I feel so lucky to have gotten a glimpse of how the Fringe works behind the scenes and have seen first-hand just how much hard work it takes to put such a large-scale event together! Getting to produce my own workshop about self-branding for participants has been the highlight.’
– Liv Ancell, 2018

What’s involved?

You and the rest of the panel will meet in Edinburgh for one session a month between November 2019 and April 2020 (the first meeting will be on Thursday 07 November, 17:30 – 20:30). You’ll work with Fringe Society staff to decide which events proposed during the open call should be in the programme and help figure out the logistics of delivering it, including relationship building, timings and marketing. You’ll also have the option to help deliver an event of your own, in which case you’ll need to be available to attend the Fringe in August 2020.

Sounds great, but who is this for?

We are looking for five young people between the ages of 18 and 26. You should have a proven interest in working or studying in the performing arts – from acting, directing and writing to production, technical management and design.

We want a variety of people to be involved and are particularly keen to hear from young people who face barriers to the Fringe, perhaps because you:

have a disability or long-term health condition
have a family or other caring responsibility
are from a minority ethnic group or another underrepresented background.

‘Being part of this creative panel has been an invaluable experience. I have loved the debates and discussions we have had, and the connections we have made with each other and people in the arts world. My eyes have been opened to the amount of hard and thoughtful work that goes into producing the events at Fringe Central.’
– Kirsty Fraser, 2019

What do I get?

Each Youth Panel participant will gain:

valuable experience in event programming, marketing and delivery
a unique insight into the world’s largest arts festival
mentoring from Fringe Society staff and collaboration with peers
access to Fringe Central and all its resources
experience for your CV
a stipend to cover expenses in Edinburgh (£20 per meeting) and refreshments provided during meetings
travel expenses (if required)
additional support if you have access requirements, including (but not limited to) costs for a personal assistant, BSL interpreter or additional travel expenses
a £50 Fringe ticket voucher.

Don’t live in Edinburgh? Studying or working? Not a problem!

If you don’t live in Edinburgh and still wish to apply for this opportunity, we can offer a bursary to cover a standard return train or coach fare and reasonable accommodation expenses for one night to enable your participation at each meeting. Please note you will be responsible for making these arrangements.
All sessions will be held on evenings or weekends in Edinburgh. We will work together to find times and dates that suit all participants dependent on study and work schedules.

‘It was interesting finding out about less obvious careers within the arts sector. I have enjoyed having the freedom to voice my opinion and having input to further diversify the programme. Most importantly I have learned, with the guidance given, that I am actually capable of going down these different avenues.’
– Sekai Waterman, 2019

I want to do it – sign me up!

Brilliant! Drop us a line to [email protected] with your CV and a one-page covering letter explaining:

some information about yourself
why you want to be involved
what you want to gain from the experience.

Please get in touch with us by 17:00 on Friday 25 October. Please remember the first session takes place on Thursday 07 November, 17:30 – 20:30.

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