Brighton Fringe
An outdoor crowd watches two performers. Behind them is an attractive white building with spires and a colonnade.
Performers at Fringe City
StatusActive
GenreFestival
Location(s)Brighton
CountryEngland
Attendance605,000
LeaderJulian Caddy
Patron(s)Richard Jordan, The Pebble Trust
Websitebrightonfringe.org

Brighton Fringe is an open-access arts festival held annually in Brighton, England. It is the largest annual arts festival in England[1] and one of the largest fringe festivals in the world. The programme of 2018 included 1008 events at over 166 venues across 4 weeks, in May and June.[2]

Introduction

Brighton Fringe runs at a similar time to Brighton Festival, and in 2013 extended its run to four weeks.[3]

One of the event's main objectives is to promote local talent and the arts. It also offers performers an opportunity for their event to be reviewed or picked up by promoters, as well as going on to Edinburgh. This is why anyone can put on a Brighton Fringe event. In 2011 Brighton Fringe launched the Professional Development Programme, aimed at offering workshops to aspiring performers wanting to progress in the business.[4] In 2012, Brighton Fringe opened its own on-street box office, which provided a physical base for the arts event, selling tickets as well as being a hub for promoters and performers.[5] They also launched "Brighton in the Square", a showcase of Brighton Fringe performers at the Leicester Square Theatre in London.[6]

As part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Brighton Fringe introduced the Dip Your Toe project in 2012, which featured performances in six custom-built Victorian bathing machines, which were located throughout Brighton and Hove during the month of May.[7] In 2014, the organisation launched an Arts Council England supported scheme called "Window" which showcases productions suitable for touring.[8]

Brighton Fringe is a registered charity but does not rely on public funding, in fact, less than 3% of its income is generated from public sources.[9] The other sources of revenue include participants’ registration fees, advertising, sponsorship and Friends memberships.

History

Fringe activity has run alongside Brighton Festival since its creation in 1967. In 1972 Sussex University student Titus Alexander set up a society to stage fringe events, including a centenary play The Legend and True History of Aubrey Beardsley, with Christopher Pope as Beardsley, which went to the Edinburgh Fringe.

The Fringe established itself as a limited company and registered charity in October 2006, with its own board of directors and complete financial independence from the Festival.[10] In 2012 it rebranded itself as Brighton Fringe. In this period of time the organisation more than doubled in size, increasing from 323 shows in 2007 to 719 in 2012, bringing visitors into the city and boosting tourism and local businesses.[11]

The programme of 2018 included two new seasons. The Freedom Season – a programme of events that are accessible to a range of audiences with access needs, including those with physical and invisible disabilities, and the Finnish Season. Furthermore, 2018 also saw the return of the Dutch Season and the return of late-night Fringe City.

The current CEO is Julian Caddy.[12]

In 2020, Brighton Fringe was scheduled to run from 1 May until the 31 May; however due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was rescheduled for an unconfirmed date in September or October 2020.[13]

Open access

Brighton Fringe is an open-access mixed arts event, which means it does not book performers, but is approached by people wishing to put events on and be part of the Fringe. Participants can vary from the complete beginner to the hardened professional show, and everything in between. Therefore, anyone can put an event on as part of Brighton Fringe. For example, in May 2019 - Unframed Lives[14] was a photographic exhibition, panel event and installation for Brighton Fringe.[15] It’s a creative collaboration between people who have experienced homelessness under austerity as a resistance project. It shows the use of art and research as a community dialogue to reflect on the lived experience of homeless people under austerity.

Venues

A venue for Brighton Fringe can be anything; from a large concert hall or theatre to a private house, a park, or on one occasion, a bath.

With the increase of large high-profile venues, some commentators have suggested that Brighton Fringe may be reaching a similar profile as the Edinburgh Fringe.[16]

Fringe City

Picture from "Fringe City" on the opening day of the 2007 Brighton Festival Fringe

In a similar vein to the use of the Royal Mile at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, "Fringe City", a free event taking place in the New Road, Pavilion Gardens and Jubilee Street area of Brighton, was first introduced in 2007. By 2008, it was taking place every Saturday of May, and provides a showcase for any of the performers from the Fringe. In 2015, Fringe City saw audiences of 75,000, and in 2016, Fringe City saw audiences of 100.000, and takes place every weekend throughout the festival, alongside Family Picnic events on some weekends.

Fringe Academy

Fringe Academy is a year-round programme of more than fifty free workshops providing skills-basked training, advice and support for individuals looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of the arts. Brighton Fringe brings thereby a host of experts from Brighton University and Arts Council England for instance, which secures a high level of learning.[17]

Awards and Bursaries

Every year Brighton Fringe hand out awards in the various categories to the best events and companies participating in the Fringe. Furthermore, Brighton Fringe works closely together with local and national organisations and companies to put together a number of bursaries and funding opportunities for Brighton Fringe participants.

References

  1. ↑ James, Ben (4 October 2013). "Brighton fringe celebrates best year yet (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Fringe, Brighton (15 June 2015). "Brighton Fringe Take Part". brightonfringe.org. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  3. ↑ James, Ben. "£1.4m fringe blockbuster attracts 400,000 punters (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Keenan, John (20 February 2012). "Brighton Fringe unveils feast of vibrance". The Argus. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Brighton Fringe launches on-street box office (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Brighton Fringe acts take to London stage (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Time to dive in to Brighton Fringe (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Registration prices lowered for Brighton Fringe 2014 | News". 22 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Brighton Fringe – About us".
  10. ↑ "The Argus – Fringe to cut Free from Festival". Retrieved 1 January 2003.
  11. ↑ "The Argus, news, sport, events, jobs, homes for Brighton, Hove and Sussex". Theargus.co.uk. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  12. ↑ Keenan, John (25 October 2011). "Brighton Fringe boss appointed (From The Argus)". Theargus.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Fringe, Coronavirus Information | Brighton. "Coronavirus Information | Brighton Fringe". www.brightonfringe.org. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "Unframed lives | The Psychologist". thepsychologist.bps.org.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "MYBRIGHTON & HOVE Photo Project – Unframed Lives comes to Brighton Fringe". BN1 Magazine. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  16. ↑ Byrne, Ciar (6 May 2008). "Brighton Fringe raises profile to rival Edinburgh". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  17. ↑ "Brighton Fringe Academy".
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