DONOR IMPACT REPORT 2025
Praise Mangena in ‘Art is the Medium’, Fringe Fund Recipient. Photo: Razan Fakhouri, 2025.
ELA ide FrinG e th E
oSt I nc LUSI ve
I n th E
We raise money to distribute Fringe tickets to communities experiencing disadvantage and provide grant opportunities and industry collaborations for artists, producers and venues to reduce barriers for all to participate in Adelaide Fringe. With these opportunities, we aim to elevate diverse voices, and support all forms of expression, which enrich our festival offering now and into the future. Through this work, we're not only expanding access today—we're securing the future of Adelaide Fringe for generations to come.
BIGGER APPLAUSE, SMALLER FEES
From Rainbow Serpent to Rainbow Flag, we're helping fund the next generation of First Nations, Diverse and first-time Fringe artists and venues.
Mo
RE rAMPS , LESs ste PS
From Auslan Interpreters to audio description. We want to make every show accessible for both performers and audiences.
Fro M FAR AwA y to the Front Row
We want to ensure those from regional communities and those experiencing disadvantage can become future audience members and potential Fringe participants.
Our g o a l i s to raise $1m an n u a l l y by 2032 W a n t to help? Of c o u r s e you do!
Heather Croall AM
Adelaide Fringe Director & CEO
As we reflect on another incredible year at Adelaide Fringe, I'm filled with immense gratitude for our extraordinary community. Arts Unlimited, the Adelaide Fringe Foundation, thrives thanks to generous collaboration. To our Donor Circle, your generosity is the heartbeat of our mission, enabling us to support diverse artists and ensure Fringe remains vibrant for all.
Thanks to you, we directly fund artists and provide tickets for those who otherwise couldn't experience the magic. Our Giving Day and Awards partners, along with Create SA and the Government of South Australia, are also vital to our success, championing excellence and boosting grants for South Australian artists. Arts Unlimited is an organic, evolving force, driven by shared values and the belief that arts should be accessible to everyone. Together, we're making bold, creative futures possible.
David Pearson
Adelaide Fringe Foundation Board Chair
Adelaide Fringe is already the biggest arts festival in the southern hemisphere – now we’re on a bold mission to make it the most inclusive in the world. As Chair of the foundation, it’s a privilege to witness how the generosity of our Fringe community fuels this extraordinary vision.
In 2025, support from our donors, partners and the South Australian Government has once again made a profound difference, breaking down barriers for artists and audiences alike. This includes opening doors for First Nations artists, emerging creatives, people with lived experience of disability, regional communities, and others who haven’t always had a place in the spotlight – or a seat at the show. In a world currently filled with so much fear and violence, the arts has never been more important in uniting communities and transporting people to a place beyond the current harsh reality.
Arts Unlimited ensures the magic of Fringe reaches further, resonates deeper, and remains accessible to all. Our supporters are backing a movement that champions equity, imagination, and opportunity. Thank you for believing in what Adelaide Fringe stands for and helping us shape a future where creativity belongs to everyone.
Thank you to the ongoing support of our Foundation Board:
David Pearson (Chair), Fiona Sinclair, Jess Cronin, Julie Fraser, Karen Hayes AM DSJ, Maria Panagiotidis, Matt Tarrant, Sam Harvey and Sarah Rohrsheim.
Acknowledgement of Country
Adelaide Fringe recognises Kaurna Miyurna Yarta (Adelaide Plains people’s Land) and all First Nations people and their ancestral lands and waterways on which Fringe lives, operates and learns. The lands were never ceded and remain as important to the living Kaurna people today. We pay respect to the Kaurna people and their Elders past and present.
$1,251,781
FUNDS RAISED
$701,781 Philanthropic Funds
$550,000 State Government Funds
FRINGE FUND
$1,153,238 worth of grants distributed to artists, venues and producers
251 shows in the program were supported with grants
COMMUNITY FUND AWARDS MONEY
10,485 people supported with Community Fund tickets
47
78 organisations supported $261,797 worth of tickets were purchased for communities and school groups who would otherwise not be able to attend Fringe
53 schools supported homeschool families supported
$260,000 in prize money for Fringe Awards was paid out to participants
The State Government has played a key role in helping grow the funds available for artists.
We strive to disburse more grants to artists year on year.
It’s our goal to make Adelaide Fringe more accessible and inclusive to as many people as possible. Thanks to our generous donors, we’ve been able to escalate this substantially in the last few years.
Fringe Fund
Fringe Fund enables year-round grant and development opportunities to reduce financial barriers for artists & venues, and to foster collaborations with creative organisations—enhancing program diversity and growing audiences across all genres.
With support from the State Government, Donor Circle Members and Fringe Community, 251 grants worth more than $1m were disbursed for participation in Adelaide Fringe 2025.
'The Staging Change grants empower artists to spark vital conversations about mental health in creative and courageous ways. It’s incredible to see stories of lived experience shift audience perspectives, reduce discrimination, and inspire hope. Through the arts, we’re building bridges— connecting communities and changing the way we understand mental health.'
- Taimi Allen, SA Mental Health Commissioner
Lumo Energy Venue Grant
As our Community Partner, Lumo Energy gave out $10,000 cash grants to assist South Australian venues with vital operational costs, production upgrades and essential renovations.
Lumo Energy’s support helps local bricks and mortar venues to give artists the space they deserve to bring works to life.
2025 Grant Recipients:
• Holden Street Theatres
• Nexus Arts
• Prompt Creative Centre
• The Jade
SA Mental Health Commissioner Grants
The SA Mental Health Commissioner ‘Staging Change’ Grants are designed to promote conversations and education about mental health through the arts. These recipients have shows that address mental health themes or encourage dialogue and understanding about mental health issues.
2025 Grant Recipients:
• Hart Street Arts - Aggie Stav
• Amanda Lee for ‘Joy’
• Andrew Cooper for ‘ADDiCTED music mime dance’
• Sonia Smith for ‘Five Years Free!’
• Christel Cherryadi for ‘Mirror XR | Shards of Memories’
• Gayle Mather for ‘Umeewarra Downtown’
• Gluttony and Shake It for ‘Shake It’
• Loui Wall for ‘Lou WallBreaking the Fifth Wall’
• Maroussia Vladi for ‘In Small Doses’
• Lindsay Prodea & Matthew Liersch for ‘A Friend of Dorothy: Anthems of Pride’
• Max Olman for ‘SICK-STEEN’
• Michelle Pearson for ‘Skinny’
• Robbie Jones for ‘Ritual’
• Scout Boxall for 'Scout BoxallGod's Favourite'
Novatech Arts Innovation Fund
The Novatech Arts Innovation Fund, supported by Novatech Creative Event Technology, is designed to foster technological innovation and entrepreneurial creativity within Adelaide Fringe venues. With a combination of cash and in-kind support, this fund assisted emerging venues in taking on ambitious, innovative plans for the 2025 festival. Novatech provided a total of $50,000 cash and $50,000 of in-kind support that was divided amongst these successful applicants.
2025 Grant Recipients:
• Fool’s Paradise
• Multicultural Comedy Hub at the Ibis Hotel
• The Warehouse Theatre
• Nineteen Ten
• The GC Grand Central at The Arts Theatre
Macdoch Foundation
The Macdoch Foundation exists to build the resilience of people and the planet. With their support, grants of up to $5,000 were awarded to First Nations artists to help bring their work to life at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe.
Adelaide Fringe is deeply committed to supporting career pathways for First Nations artists. These grants not only increase participation, visibility, and representation, they also elevate the powerful tradition of First Nations storytelling. Through their art, recipients foster leadership, strengthen cultural identity, and connect communities by sharing their stories across a variety of genres.
2025 Grant Recipients:
• Carclew Emerging First Nations Creatives for 'Blak Seeds Fest'
• Sonia Smith for 'Five Years Free'
“This fund has allowed me to push further out (especially to the Eyre Peninsula) than I have been before. I have then been able to build great working relationships with my venues so I can bring more entertainment throughout the year. I could not have afforded to do that without the help from the fund. It has also helped me bring entertainment designed for women but enjoyed by all to areas where there is not much that is made for them.”
- Lori Bell, ‘Granny Flaps - Wide Open Spaces Roadshow’ - Fringe Fund recipient
“The support we receive through the Fringe Fund is invaluable—it fuels creativity, strengthens artistic careers, and ensures that independent artists have the resources they need to connect, inspire, and leave a lasting impact on audiences and the wider arts community”
- Simone Avramidis, Artistic Director at Goodwood Theatre
“I wasn’t going to be able to make it to Adelaide Fringe this year. With a newborn baby, I didn’t have the money to travel from Wagga Wagga and stay in Adelaide, or to properly put on the show and market it, but then the Fringe Fund came through meaning that I could perform 'Didgeri-Dad' – a show all about being a father. I am so appreciative and grateful for the funding. It was so much fun to perform the show – I learn so much every time I perform at Adelaide Fringe.”
- Dane Simpson, ‘Didgeri-Dad’, Fringe Fund recipient
“As an International independent artist, securing the Fringe Fund felt like having a huge pillar of support just holding you up, every time you felt like you were going to fall. It gave me the inspiration to push harder and do the best I could, as I had people believing in me. My first time performing in Australia felt very welcoming and definitely will be back for more. This is only the first step forward.”
- Vibhinna Ramdev, ‘Why English? - Layers beneath the language!’, Fringe Fund recipient
“The Fringe Fund was vital in helping us bring Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence from WA to Adelaide. Touring an original musical with a cast and crew of ten is a huge undertaking, and this funding helped cover key costs like travel and tech hire. Thanks to the Fringe Fund, we’re able to share our story with new audiences while championing gender equality in sport and the arts. Now, with momentum behind us, we’ve been invited to take the show to the Edinburgh Fringean incredible opportunity made possible thanks to the support of the Fringe Fund!”
- ‘Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence’, Fringe Fund recipient
Arts Industry Collaborations
The Adelaide Fringe Arts Industry Collaborations provide ongoing support through residencies, space rentals, grants, mentorships, workshops and more. By combining resources, Adelaide Fringe assists in nurturing and creating connectivity between local organisations while supporting a future of sustainable careers in the arts. Our Arts Industry Collaborations are possible thanks to generous support from the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation and Arts Unlimited.
ActNow Theatre
MakeSpace Residency
Recipient: Danielle Lim
Performance Outcome:
‘The Good Decisions Project’
Guildhouse
Catapult Mentorship
Recipient: Truc Truong
Mentor: Jennifer Matthews
Performance Outcome:
‘Catapult x Adelaide
fab workshop
Artist in Residence: Martina Beka
Exhibition Outcome: ‘sore-tooth’ and ‘what if i forget’
Artist in Residence: Asha Southcombe
Exhibition Outcome: ‘sore-tooth’
Lewis Major Projects
The Mill
Centre Stage Residency
Recipient: Poppy Mee
Performance Outcome:
PSYCHOPOMP
Centre Stage
Residency Recipient:
Praise Mangena
Performance Outcome: ‘Art is the Medium’
Part of Things
Part of Fringe - Facilitated by Alysha Hermann
Performance Outcome:
Donor Circle
In 2025, our Donor Circle members generously
Fringe Luminaries
($25,000+)
Dr
Georgie
Sam
Sarah
Fringe Visionaries
$10,000+
Julie
Fringe
$5,000+
Angelica
Dr
Karen
Become a part of the Donor Circle
Don’t worry, we don’t want your organs. But if your heart belongs to Fringe, why not join our Donor Circle.
Giving Day Event at ILA. Photo: David Heatley. L to R: Jess Cronin, Maddie Thompson, Marjorie Fitz-Gerald OAM, Sam Harvey, Leslie Thompson.
VIP Event at Fool's Paradise. Photo: Razan Fakhouri. L to R: Sam Harvey, George Balales, Nita Balales, Peter Coad, Rosalie Coad.
Donor Program Launch Event at Hotel Indigo. Photo: Jenny Kwok, 2025. L to R: Cathy Miller, Dr Zibi Setlhong, Dr Scott Ma, Heather Croall OAM.
Donor Program Launch Event at Hotel Indigo. Photo: Jenny Kwok, 2025. L to R: Foundation Board Members Maria Panagiotidis, Jess Cronin, David Pearson, and Julie Fraser
Donor Event at Historic Iona in Darlinghurst, Sydney. Photo: Henrique Fanti, 2024.
Donor Program Launch Event at Hotel Indigo. Photo: Jenny Kwok, 2025. Matt Tarrant.
Awards
The Adelaide Fringe Awards program acknowledges outstanding works presented within the Adelaide Fringe program, judged by a panel of arts industry leaders and arts lovers. These Awards are highly sought after, and the accolades can carry artists forward to any and all future projects and prospects.
A further $260,000 in prize money was awarded at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe Awards Ceremony.
Award Recipient Award
Edinburgh Fringe Award Lewis Major: Triptych
John Chataway Innovation Award presented by KOJO
Transmission - into the dark
The Frank Ford Award Tracy Crisp
Sarah Rohresheim Adelaide Fringe Award Dusty Lee Stephensen
Adelaide Critics Circle Award Ten Thousand Hours
The Holden Street Theatres Adelaide Fringe Award Love is a Game: An Adele Song Cycle
Science at the Fringe Award presented by Inspiring SA
The Earth Above: A Deep Time View of Australia’s Epic History
Adelaide Festival Centre’s inSPACE Award DUST
Best of Street Award, presented by Dolphin Creative The Brucie Show
Guildhouse Award Object Permanence
Artform Shaker Award supported by Theatre Networks Australia
Tracy Crisp: Pearls
Take a Chance on Adelaide Award presented by Ray and Conrad HenleyCalvert Dirty Work
One to Watch Award presented by Matt Tarrant
Charlee Watt
Best Emerging Producer Award presented by MILKE Matthew Liersch
Mental Health Awareness Award presented by mindshare I Think I’m Dying [But I Don’t Want To Go To The Doctor]
Mental Health Commissioner’s Staging Change Touring Award Skinny
The Earn Svigos Visual Art Award for Best Solo Exhibition Object Permanence
The Marjorie Fitz-Gerald Encouragement Award for Costuming Amazônia
House of Oz Purse Prize presented by Georgie Black FLICK
House of Oz Purse Prize presented by Georgie Black Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence
Award for Excellence in Poetry presented by Mary Walker OAM & John Walker
Award for Excellence in Poetry presented by Mary Walker OAM & John Walker
Cultural Diversity Award presented by the Australian Refugee Association
Sustainability Award presented by Graham F Smith Peace Foundation
Tony Dole
WRIGHT & GRAINGER
NIUSIA
Black Girl Rising
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award Dusty Feet Mob
Adelaide Fringe Access Award SICK-STEEN
Adelaide Fringe sincerely thanks all Judges and Award Partners for their generous donations of time and money towards making the Adelaide Fringe Awards possible.
Adelaide Comedy | Adelaide Critics Circle | Adelaide Festival Centre | Australian Refugee Association BankSA | Carclew | CreateSA | Dolphin Creative | Fiji Fringe | Frank Ford AM Bequest FRINGE WORLD Festival | Graham F Smith Peace Foundation | Guildhouse | Hither & Yon Holden Street Theatres | Hollywood Fringe | House of Oz - Georgie Black | Inspiring South Australia KOJO | KWP+PARTNERS | Leslie Thompson | Lumo Energy | Mary Walker OAM & John Walker Matt Tarrant | Melbourne Fringe | MILKE | mindshare | Musicorp Australia | Nature Foundation NZ Fringe Festival | Office of the Mental Health Commissioner of South Australia Ray and Conrad Henley-Calvert | Sarah Rohrsheim | Svigos & Dimond Families | Sydney Fringe Festival TAFE SA | The List | Theatre Network Australia | Visualcom | Wallis Cinema
Award Recipient
Carclew Creative Youth Award I Still Have No Friends
Adelaide Fringe Emerging Artist Award FLOP
Hollywood Fringe Tour Ready Award Maybelline is in her Slut Era
The FRINGE WORLD Tour Ready Award
Adam PageFor Kids… and their Adults
Fiji Fringe Festival Tour Ready Award BAM WOW Amazing Show!
The Sydney Fringe Tour Ready Award Aidan JonesChopin’s Nocturne
NZ Fringe Festival Wellington Tour Ready Award
I Think I’m Dying [But I Don’t Want To Go To The Doctor]
The Melbourne Fringe Tour Ready Award JOY
Volunteer of the Year presented by Lumo Energy Trevor Hobbs
Adelaide Fringe Best Kids & Family Award presented by Wallis Cinema
Adelaide Fringe Best Cabaret Award presented by The List
Signor Baffo
An Evening Without Kate Bush
Adelaide Fringe Best Circus Award The Mirror
Adelaide Fringe Best Comedy Award presented by Adelaide Comedy
Adelaide Fringe Best Dance Award presented by TAFE SA
Garry StarrClassic Penguins
Overture
Award
Adelaide Fringe Best Theatre & Physical Theatre Award presented by TAFE SA
Adelaide Fringe Best Film & Digital Award presented by KWP+Partners
Adelaide Fringe Best Interactive Award presented by KWP+Partners
Adelaide Fringe Best Eat & Drink Award
Adelaide Fringe Best Community Event Award
Adelaide Fringe Best Workshops & Talks Award
Adelaide Fringe Best Magic Award
Adelaide Fringe Best Music Award presented by Musicorp Australia
Recipient
Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Ar** For England
The Great Solar System Adventure: Full Dome Experience
Karate Man –A Live-Action Video Game
Ăn c m
Amplifii Music Festival
Silver-clay: A Jewellery Making Experience
Stuart Lightbody's Magical Hands and Magical Feats
This Old Cello Box
Adelaide Fringe Best Visual Art & Design Award presented by Visualcom Hag-ia
Adelaide Fringe Best Variety Award presented by Hither & Yon
An Evening with Dame Granny Smith
BankSA Pick of the Fringe Chicken
Awards
Supported by Donor Circle Members
Thank you to Foundation Board Member Matt Tarrant for presenting the One to Watch Award and Donor Circle Members Ray & Conrad Henley-Calvert for presenting the Take a Chance on Adelaide Award. Their ongoing contribution to our Awards Program is invaluable to all the artists they support.
Harvey and Tracy Crisp
Frank Ford Award
Founding Chairman of Adelaide Fringe, ‘Father of the Fringe’, Frank Ford AM, bequeathed $200,000 to Adelaide Fringe to be given out as an annual award of $20,000 to a South Australian artist to present their work interstate or overseas. This allows local performers to progress their career and develop their craft. Thank you to Foundation Board Member, Sam Harvey for continuing Frank's legacy.
Winners
2025 - Tracy Crisp
2024 - Stephen Noonan
2023 - Hew Parham
2022 - Lewis Major
2021 - Patrick Livesey and Wil King
2020 - Joanne Hartstone
2019 - Michaela Burger
Sarah Rohrsheim Adelaide Fringe Fellowship Award
In 2023, Sarah Rohrsheim—Foundation Board Member—established a $25,000 annual award to help artists present their work nationally or internationally. The award recognises artists with extraordinary potential and vision, while celebrating Adelaide Fringe talent on a global stage.
Winners
2025 - Dusty Lee Stephensen
2024 - Chloe Castledine 2023 - Charlie Caper & Malin Nilsson
House of Oz Purse Prize
Georgie Black is the Director of House of Oz, an award-winning philanthropic platform for amplifying Australian creative arts for cultural export. In 2024, Adelaide Fringe and House of Oz announced the House of Oz Purse Prize, offering local artists the opportunity to showcase their talents in Assembly venues at the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The collaboration is a shared commitment to identifying and nurturing exceptional Australian acts.
Winners (2025)
- FLICK
- Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence
Excellence in Poetry
Introduced in 2025, the Excellence in Poetry Award is supported by Donor Circle Members Mary Walker OAM and John Walker. This award recognises an exceptional writer celebrating poetry within their performance, honoring their talent and dedication to the art of poetry and spoken word.
Winners (2025)
- Tony Dole
- WRIGHT & GRAINGER
Sam
at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe Awards Ceremony.
Photo: David Heatley.
Corporate Support
Adelaide Fringe is forever grateful for the additional philanthropic support of some of our corporate partners.
Initiatives in 2025 included:
Presenting Partner, NRMA Insurance helped us support even more artists and communities by doubling donations made at cart and tickets paid forward.
Lumo Energy, Toyota, Lutheran Care, MGA Whittles Community Foundation, and Health Partners were Matching Partners on our 3nd annual Giving Day, helping raise over $160,000 in donations for the Community Fund.
Foodland + Fringe tote bags were on sale in Foodland stores across South Australia, with part proceeds from every bag sold donated to Arts Unlimited.
Cucina Classica sold a limited edition run of coffee beans with 50 cents from every bag sold donated to Arts Unlimited. In addition, they donated 1000 ready-meals to Fringe artists to help fuel their seasons!
Hither & Yon created a limited edition Fringe Petit Rouge with part proceeds from all sales supporting Arts Unlimited.
Flagship Distillery created a limited edition Fringe Gin Fizz with part proceeds from all sales supporting Arts Unlimited.
John Pedder Original Print
John Pedder, the winner of the 2025 Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition, celebrated this honour by creating a limited edition of his woodblock print ‘Are We Nearly There Yet’. John generously donated proceeds from the sale of the original prints ($5000) to Arts Unlimited.
Nunn Dimos Support Act
The Nunn Dimos Support Act is a crucial initiative that empowers emerging South Australian artists at the very start of their careers. By partnering with the Nunn Dimos Foundation to subsidise $10 tickets, it removes financial barriers for audiences while ensuring artists receive full value for their work. This approach not only makes the Fringe more accessible but also encourages audiences to discover and support new talent. 52 shows were championed through this program in 2025, many showcasing the first performances of future stars.
Cucina Classica, Hither & Yon, and Foodland collaborations. Photos: Jenny Kwok and Razan Fakhouri, 2025.
John Pedder, 2025 Adelaide Fringe Poster Artist.
Community Fund
Community Fund enables us to purchase Fringe tickets for communities and school groups experiencing disadvantage—ensuring those who might otherwise miss out have the opportunity to experience the magic of Fringe. This initiative allows us to lift people out of their everyday lives, spark the imaginations of future creatives, and foster connection through shared artistic experiences.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, partners and audience, we were able to distribute more Community Fund tickets than ever before.
CourtesyofCanteen , CommunityFundRecipient
When asked to value the impact on a scale ranging from extremely negative to extremely positive, the Community Fund recipient survey results show 100% of recipients rated the following extremely positive or positive:
Dealing with stress, depression, or anxiety
Improving individual sense of happiness
Feeling more connected to the arts Community wellbeing
Feeling welcome in the SA community
Community connection
Overcoming Barriers
Beyond financial and staffing obstacles, transportation is a decisive barrier for schools and community groups attending Fringe. In 2025, our Community Fund enabled three schools to attend by covering transport costs, ensuring more young people experienced the festival. With the support of donors, we can break down these barriers, one bus trip at a time.
“Living on a low income is difficult, and many of our tenants struggle to cover the basics. There often isn’t anything left in their budget for entertainment and the community activities which others may take for granted. So, you can imagine the delight at the offer to attend the best event in SA, Adelaide Fringe - with some attending for the first time. We would like to extend a great big thank you to the Fringe Community Fund. For many tenants, loneliness is real and being out and about in the community is a panacea for loneliness.”
Westside Housing - Community Fund recipient
“Thank you for the opportunity to pass on some tickets to families who are currently going through a very challenging time. We are so grateful that through your generous donation, we could allow families to create special memories, have a good laugh and enjoy what Fringe has to offer.”
Case ManagerFamily Service at Childhood Cancer Community Fund recipient
History of House Photo:
Category
homeschool families 47 53 organisations (50% increase from 2024) (20% increase from 2024)
(562% increase from 2024)
1-4 schools supported by Community Fund in 2025.
For the first time this year, the State Government through the Department for Education provided a $30,000 contribution to the Adelaide Fringe Schools Program to support the equity ticket scheme. This additional funding meant that even more students in Category 1 - 4 schools were able to access meaningful arts experiences at Fringe.
Scan to see list of those supported.
“Bus prices these days are very expensive but the low price of the Fringe tickets made this excursion much more accessible for our students. We attend Fringe shows to give our students an opportunity they might not have with their families. It’s a chance for them to experience live theatre, develop theatre manners, and engage in an enriching cultural experience they wouldn't typically have. It's a highlight of their year!”
Kathryn
Hazelwood, teacher at Hackham East Primary School - Equity Ticket recipient
“Wiltja has been extremely grateful over the years to be able to attend Fringe shows with the students. The students at Wiltja are all from remote communities, which makes attending the Adelaide Fringe a very new and exciting opportunity for all.”
Bronnie,
Recreation Coordinator at Wiltja Boarding School - Equity Ticket recipient
Mission to the Moon. Schools Day Out, Gluttony. Photo: Carl Vester, 2025.
Giving Day
Adelaide Fringe’s Giving Day is a one-day celebration of generosity, dedicated entirely to supporting our Community Fund. This year, in just 24 hours, we raised over $161,000—a vital contribution that helped us welcome more than 10,400 people to experience the magic of Fringe, most of whom would not have had the opportunity otherwise.
Thanks to our generous Matching Partners, every donation went twice as far - amplifying the impact and helping us reach even more people.
Presenting Partner NRMA Insurance
More South Australian communities experienced Adelaide Fringe in 2025 than ever before, thanks to Presenting Partner NRMA Insurance.
During the season, NRMA Insurance committed to matching $100,000 in checkout donations, doubling contributions to Arts Unlimited to help break-down the barriers for artists, producers, venues and communities to participate in Adelaide Fringe.
They also committed to matching the first $50,000 in tickets donated through the Pay It Forward initiative, which allowed Fringe-goers to add the average ticket price ($35) to their cart for someone who otherwise couldn’t attend. This support enabled the distribution of almost 10,500 Community Fund tickets across the Fringe season—nearly double the number we were able to gift in 2024.
Presenting Partner
Future Fund
Since 1960, Adelaide Fringe has challenged artists to be brave, inspired audiences to take risks and championed cultural diversity, inclusivity and acceptance to ensure the cultural, social and economic force of arts in South Australia. We’ve transformed streets, cities, and lives—building the biggest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
Bold ideas need bold backing.
Future Fund is our new donation initiative. This fund will support the longevity of Adelaide Fringe, enabling us to take creative risks, back emerging voices, and keep Fringe accessible and alive for generations to come.
Whether you're a lifelong Fringe fan, an artist who got your start on our stages, or a South Australian who knows the value of a vibrant cultural economy, this is your moment to help shape the future of Fringe.
Donate today and help shape tomorrow!
Leaving a Gift in Will is a chance to keep the Fringe party going long after you’ve headed off. You can support Adelaide Fringe from beyond the grave, before the grave, by having a chat with us about leaving a Gift in Will. We know there’ll come a time when you’ll no longer be amongst the crowd of Fringe-goers, so leave a gift and help fund the after party.
For a private and confidential conversation regarding leaving a Gift in Will to Adelaide Fringe, please contact our Head of Philanthropy & Development, Katherine Peach at foundation@adelaidefringe.com.au
"This show must go on, even if I'm dead!"
“I’ve realised how important my money is, even after I die. That’s why I’m donating a third of my assets to Fringe—Fringe is now my child! If my money and death can help take a bit of the pressure away from artists putting on a show, then that’s awesome. It means artists can just focus on being creative.”
Frehd Southern-Starr, Fringe artist, producer and Fringe-goer.