News

We may not be together in person, but the Edinburgh Festival Fringe still lives on in spirit during 2020.

We’re celebrating creativity with online shows and expanding the fringe community into the digital world with our Fringemakers crowdfunding platform. But it’s more than what’s happening right now. The Fringe Society are looking to the future too. We want to come back better, stronger and fairer than ever before.

That's why we’re supporting the #FutureFringe campaign – which invites anyone involved in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to submit responses to the simple question...

“What does your #FutureFringe look like?”

Organised by grass-roots companies Staging Change, The Greenhouse, and Somewhere EDI, they welcome input from residents, venues and participants. Responses will bring groups together at all levels to create grassroots change at the Fringe on topics such as inclusivity, environmental sustainability and accessibility.

Oli Savage, Artistic Director of The Greenhouse and one of the founding members behind the #FutureFringe campaign, said: “There’s a big narrative at the Fringe that if we want things to be done differently, it’s up to the powers-that-be to make it happen. In fact, the Fringe is made by locals, artists, audience members, venues, just as much as it’s made by the Fringe Society themselves. Anyone can help create the Fringe, which means it’s up to everyone to make it even better. We want to help them do that.”
 
Running throughout August to coincide with the intended dates of the 2020 festival, the campaign will be accepting submissions through social media (with the hashtag #FutureFringe) or through their website (futurefringe.co.uk). Submissions can come in any format, from a short tweet to artwork or a video. All creative responses will be displayed on the campaign website with artists’ permission, mirroring the diversity of creativity on display at the Fringe each year. But you don’t have to be an artist to submit a creative response – in fact, they are encouraging anyone to discover their artistic side and express themselves. Resources are available on their website to help you get started.
 
Of course, the campaign doesn’t end there. The group will be analysing the responses through September to better understand key needs across stakeholder groups and the issues that stand in their way. In the autumn, they will use the data to connect individuals and organisations at different levels and support them to enact the change they want to see on sustainability, accessibility and diversity. 
 
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, added: “This work is really important. The Fringe belongs to everyone, and we are excited to see groups at all levels using this time to dream and shape the future they want. The #FutureFringe campaign will help to ensure that when the Fringe returns in 2021, it does so better and stronger than ever.”

In all, the #FutureFringe campaign is trying to take the tragedy of the last year and reimagine the festival as a celebration of inclusivity, diversity and sustainability. The findings that come out of this campaign can affect the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and hopefully arts festivals across the globe.
 
The #FutureFringe campaign goes live at 10:00 on Wednesday 05 August. You can submit responses to the campaign by tweeting with the hashtag #FutureFringe, or by heading to their website futurefringe.co.uk. The campaign closes at 23:59 on 31 August.

For more information contact [email protected]