Last year, Melbourne Fringe helped 5,341 artists realise their creative dreams, through 331 events in 154 spaces across Victoria, and to an audience of 256,800. 

This much-loved annual event, now in its 30th year, is a showcase of talent from Victoria’s diverse and thriving independent arts scene.  

A rare opportunity for artists and producers to show their wares, refine their craft and test their mettle on a wide and varied audience, the Melbourne Fringe Festival has long been recognised as one of the most vital incubators for independent artists in Victoria.  This year, over thirteen artists or acts from the 2011 Festival were nominated in the 2011 Green Room Awards.

The Festival is also a unique opportunity for audiences to connect, engage and participate on a large scale with Victoria’s thriving artistic community.

For more information on how to take part in the Festival, visit the For Artists section of our website.

JUMP artist Elizabeth Dunn will present her work Flyway, created during her mentorship with Lara Thoms. Elizabeth and sound artist Lawrence English investigate the enchanting nature of migratory birds and the mystifying, ancient, epic journeys they continue to make each year.

Joseph Griffiths will show his new work Shelters, an installation handmade from entirely natural and recycled materials, collected on-site in Docklands. Marcin Wojcik’s work is currently featured in the exhibition Bellowing Echoes , hosted by Gertrude Contemporary, and Katie Sfetkidis’s  lighting design will be featured in the new work LIBERATE YOURSELF FROM MY VICE-LIKE GRIP!!!  by Melbourne Fringe alumni Mutation Theatre.

We encourage you to get on down, check out some of this fantastic new work and support our artists.

Melbourne Fringe is the Victorian State Delivery Partner for JUMP, the Australia Council’s National Mentoring Program for Young and Emerging Artists. The initiative gives new artists unique and incredibly valuable development opportunities, mentoring, and enables them to pursue a funded creative project.

For more information about Melbourne Fringe and JUMP, visit our website.

‘Esther has been the CEO of Melbourne Fringe since 2008. She has had an indelible and transformative impact on the organisation, supporting five Fringe Festivals and propelling Melbourne Fringe into the period of creative and financial success it currently enjoys,” said Rinske Ginsberg, Chair, Melbourne Fringe Board.

Esther has been an exemplary CEO whose organisational intelligence, sensitive leadership skills and strategic acumen will be sorely missed. Esther has fostered talented and passionate teams as well as a vital Artist and Sector Development program and under Esther’s stewardship we have had the most successful Melbourne Fringe Festivals in our thirty-year history.   “Esther’s legacy is a Melbourne Fringe that is not only a sophisticated, well-run premier arts organisation but one that is looking forward to a vibrant, exciting and challenging future.  And she will remain a strong advocate for the independent arts in her next role,” said Rinske Ginsberg.   Melbourne Fringe is the leading organisation for the independent arts in Victoria. Through it’s annual open-access festival and year-round workshops and forums, it facilitates the presentation of independent, contemporary work across all artforms, and offers artists and producers unique opportunities to gain diverse professional skills and present new work.   In 2011 Melbourne Fringe worked with over 5,000 artists in more than 150 spaces across Victoria, with 250,000 people attending a Melbourne Fringe event or show. Melbourne Fringe is pivotal to the success and the sustainability of the independent arts community who make Victoria the state of the arts.   “Melbourne Fringe is an extraordinary organisation – dynamic and responsive – vital to our arts ecology. It’s been a privilege to serve its outstanding staff, work collaboratively with scores of peer organisations, and champion the work of thousands of artists each year,” said Esther. “I look forward to seeing Melbourne Fringe continue to flourish.”

Melbourne Fringe is commencing recruitment for a new CEO as of Tuesday 8 May. For more information on this role and the application process, please visit the Jobs section of this website.

Publicity Enquiries:  Katrina Hall 0421 153 046Download Media Release

“I couldn’t be more delighted to take on this exciting position at the Melbourne Fringe. This role offers a truly unique opportunity to contribute strategically and creatively to one of Australia’s most vital arts festivals. I hope that my experience and passion for Melbourne’s arts scene will, along with the support of the incredible team at the Melbourne Fringe office, help me fulfill this challenging role and also bring something unique to this fantastic and vital festival,” says Felix of his new position.

Melbourne Fringe is the leading organisation for the independent arts in Victoria.  We facilitate the presentation of contemporary work across all artforms. Melbourne Fringe’s artistic program offers artists and producers unique opportunities to gain diverse professional skills and present new work. In 2011 Melbourne Fringe worked with 5,341 artists and presented 331 events in 154 spaces across Victoria, to audiences of 256,800. Melbourne Fringe is pivotal to the success and the sustainability of the independent arts community who make Victoria the state of the arts.

This year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival runs from Wednesday, 26 September to Sunday, 14 October 2012.

“I am delighted to welcome Felix to the organisation, and I welcome the passion and expertise he will bring to the Melbourne Fringe team. With registrations in our massive Independent Arts Program opening in mid-May, this is the perfect time for Felix to join Melbourne Fringe and get to know our extraordinary artists,” said Esther Anatolitis, Melbourne Fringe CEO.

Felix starts in the Independent Arts Manager role on 2 May 2012.

There are separate forms to fill out depending on which room or rooms you think would be most suitable for your show. Whichever room you’d like to apply for you need to speak to a member of the Melbourne Fringe team about your application. Call the office on 9660 9600 or email Neal on neal@melbournefringe.com.au to arrange a meeting time. Neal will be your first point of contact for Fringe Hub until our new Independent Arts Manager joins us.

If you’d like to apply for one of the rooms in the North Melbourne Town Hall or the Lithuanian House then need to read, fill out and return this form.

If you’d like to apply to present a season in the Meat Market then you need to read, fill out and return this form.

If you'd like to apply for the Warehouse then please read, fill out and return this form.

All submissions are due by 30 April. Please get in touch with the Melbourne Fringe team if you have any questions.

The understated emotion and puritan word choice are perfect as Scheider’s character calls on six small words to sum up the gravest of challenges facing the film’s three heroes.

In 2012 the Melbourne Fringe Furniture Exhibition focuses on the simple expression of challenging concepts. The September event will showcase the clarity of vision, economical practice and exemplary understatement which characterises great furniture design. This exhibition is all about the beauty of simplicity and the poetry of restraint.

With a cool head and a steady hand, this year’s Melbourne Fringe Furniture designers will use their artistic with and creative cadence to sum up the challenges we face which only good design can solve.

The 2012 Fringe Furniture ExhibitionSupported by RMIT and The Abbotsford Convent

For more information, check out the Fringe Furniture website.

EMBARK ON MENTORING JOURNEY

Fourteen Victorian artists are amongst the largest ever intake into an Australian artist mentoring program, announced by Youth Arts Queensland today.

A total of seventy-five young and emerging artists nationally have made their artistic match, and will work with respected arts professionals as part of the 2012 JUMP National Mentoring Program.

Funded by the Australia Council for the Arts as part of their 2008 – 2012 programs of support for Young and Emerging Artists, JUMP identifies and promotes excellence in artistic practice, and provides a unique opportunity for artists to advance their careers and make their mark on the Australian arts industry.

JUMP is managed nationally by Youth Arts Queensland in collaboration with state and territory delivery partner organisations, including Melbourne Fringe in Victoria.

Esther Anatolitis, CEO of Melbourne Fringe said: "What an extraordinary group of artists. I can't wait to see where this intensive JUMP year will take their practice! Once again, Melbourne Fringe is thrilled to extend our support of Victorian artists through this national program with a focus on excellence as well as diversity."

Amongst the group of successful JUMP applicants is emerging classical and contemporary opera singer Trevor Maitland (24 years) from Newtown, Geelong. 

An honours graduate of music from the VCA, Maitland performed the tenor role of Filbert in the premier of Stuart Greenbaum’s opera, The Parrot Factory, at the Malthouse Theatre in 2011, and performs regularly with the Victorian Opera Chorus.   As part of the JUMP program, he will be mentored by the internationally renowned vocal coach, conductor and pianist David Aronson at the Vienna Conservatory.

“JUMP has made it possible for me to reach for opportunities internationally that would have been otherwise impossible,” Maitland said.  “JUMP is an amazing opportunity and its help has been delivered at a pivotal time for me.  I’m excited and determined to make the most of it.”

“David Aronson has worked with the Vienna State Opera as well as singers such as Luciano Pavarotti, Bryn Terfel and Placido Domingo. Working with someone of that calibre is a dream.  Whilst in Vienna I not only plan to hone my singing skills but also make some invaluable international industry contacts.”

The 2012 JUMP artists from Victoria will commence their mentoring journeys on 7 - 8 February when they will participate in an induction event held at Arts Victoria in Melbourne.

More information about successful JUMP applicants can be found on the artists section of the JUMP website www.jumpmentoring.com.au.

To stay up to date with 2012 JUMP artists and their work, sign up to the JUMP email list, or follow JUMP on Facebook and Twitter.

2012 JUMP artists from Victoria and their mentors

Alex Desebrock (community arts, theatre, visual arts) – mentor: Sara Topsøe-Jensen (Denmark)

Amy Spiers (interdisciplinary arts, visual arts) – mentor: Paul Robert Gazzola (SA)

Anna van Veldhuisen (music, theatre) – mentor: Eugene Ughetti (VIC)

Elizabeth Dunn (community arts, interdisciplinary arts, visual arts) – mentor: Lara Thoms (VIC)

Fregmonto Stokes (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander arts, community arts, music, theatre) – mentor: Lou Bennett (VIC)

Joseph L. Griffiths (interdisciplinary arts, visual arts) – mentor: Dylan Martorell (VIC)

Judith Hamann (music) – mentor: Erkki Veltheim (VIC)

Katie Sfetkidis (interdisciplinary arts, theatre) – mentor: Jude Anderson (VIC)

Lachlan Anthony (interdisciplinary arts, visual arts) – mentor: Bosco Shaw (VIC)

Marcin Wojcik (interdisciplinary arts, visual arts) – mentor: Laresa Kosloff (VIC)

Matt Tierney (interdisciplinary arts, music) – mentor: Ollie Bown (NSW)

Maysa Abouzheid (community arts, theatre) – mentor: Katrine Gabb (VIC)

Shian Law (dance, interdisciplinary arts) – mentor: Jo Lloyd (VIC)

Trevor Maitland (music, theatre) – mentor: David Aronson (Austria)

Please note: full artist biographies are available on the Artists section of the JUMP website www.jumpmentoring.com.au.

Jenny Ellis, the puppeteer work on her new show, The Owl’s Apprentice, and made a little video Tristan Meecham, the live art performerMia Stanford, comic Drew Pettifer, photographer and performerPete Reid, singer and performerJoceline Lee, illustratorZoe Scoglio, installation and new media artistBonne Lane, video artist

Check out some of their projects and acheivements here.

The Melbourne Fringe Festival was awarded the prestigious Skybus Award for Best Major Event or Festival at the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards on November 14.

“On behalf of the Festival’s thousands of artists and hundreds of thousands of audience members, we’re absolutely delighted that the Melbourne Fringe Festival has been recognised with this important award,” said Melbourne Fringe CEO, Esther Anatolitis. 

“This accolade reflects Melbourne’s distinct character as Australia’s home of the independent arts.   The Melbourne Fringe Festival is made for this city by our independent artists. Every year, huge and diverse audiences come together to experience art in traditional as well as unexpected places, constantly reinterpreting Melbourne as Australia’s arts capital.”

The 2010 Melbourne Fringe Festival, for which this award was presented, included the work of 3,989 artists in 331 shows, presented at 132 venues and locations across Victoria, to audiences of 459,003. This generated $21.4m in total expenditure, as independently assessed by EconSearch.

“These figures indicate that Melbourne Fringe not only plays a vital role in supporting the independent arts, it also creates significant cultural and economic benefits for Victoria,” Anatolitis said.

Melbourne Fringe is the leading organisation for the independent arts in Victoria.  It facilitates the presentation of contemporary work across all artforms, and its artistic program gives both emerging and established artists opportunities to gain diverse professional skills and present new work.

Anatolitis acknowledges that important role that Melbourne Fringe’s many partners have played in the success of the Festival. “Melbourne Fringe would not be able to achieve what it does without the commitment of partners such as Yarra Trams, Art Series Hotels, Little Creatures, Innocent Bystander, RMITUniversity, Full Tilt at the Arts Centre, Norton Rose and Tourism Victoria, as well as our major government partners Arts Victoria and the City of Melbourne. 

“It’s this level of passionate commitment that makes Victoria the state of the arts,” she said. 

Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria and Minister for the Arts, congratulated Melbourne Fringe on this success. “The Coalition Government was proud to support the 2011 Melbourne Fringe Festival because we understand the critical role of successful arts and cultural events in attracting visitors to Victoria.

“This award shows the Melbourne Fringe Festival is playing its part in helping to strengthen Melbourne’s reputation as the arts capital of Australia.

“The success of the Fringe and our other festivals means more economic activity and jobs in Victoria.”

Congratulating Melbourne Fringe at the gala awards presentation, Minister for Tourism and Events, Louise Asher said the awards are instrumental in encouraging creativity, professionalism and innovation within the tourism industry.

“These awards recognise and reward the best tourist experiences across our state and honour our highly skilled workforce and promote award-winning products,” Ms Asher said.

“These awards celebrate the achievements of those who strive for tourism excellence and quality and to make Victoria a world-class tourism destination.”

More than 140 tourism operators competed in 27 business categories, with another three individual and group awards presented at a gala ceremony on 14 November.

As a Victorian Tourism Awards winner, Melbourne Fringe will go on to represent Victoria at the Qantas 2011 Australian Tourism Awards in Cairns in March 2012.

Best Emerging Circus Performer, supported by ACAPTA – presented by Sue Broadway

WINNER: Tilly Cobham-Hervey, Freefall

AWARD: ACAPTA membership for 1 year and participation in an ACAPTA presented master class

Tour Ready Award, supported by Adelaide Fringe - presented by Greg Clarke

WINNER: Uta Uber Kool Ja

AWARD: The winner of the Adelaide Fringe 2012 Award will receive free registration and $2000 support for Adelaide Fringe 2012.

Best Emerging Producer, supported by Auspicious Arts Award – presented by John Paul Fischbach

WINNER: Erin Voth from The American Astronaut

AWARD: One term in the Auspicious Arts Incubator, worth $1200.

Outstanding Comedy Show Award, supported by Brisbane Powerhouse – presented by Sarah Neal

WINNER: Me Pregnant!

AWARD: Entry into the Brisbane Comedy Festival 2012 and presentation support including $2000 to go toward flights, accommodation and remounting costs.

Innovation in Theatre Award, supported by Brisbane Powerhouse – presented by Sarah Neal

WINNER: Bunny

AWARD: Entry into the World Theatre Festival 2012 (Brisbane) and presentation support including $2000 to go toward flights, accommodation and remounting costs.

Original New Circus, supported by Circus Oz Award – presented by Antonella Casella

WINNER: No Such Thing as Normal

AWARD: Two weeks training/mentorship at Circus Oz with Artistic Director, Mike Finch

Outstanding Indigenous Artist Award, supported by the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts – presented by Leuli Eshraghi

WINNER: Vicki Cousins from Re: appropriate

AWARD: Participation in a short course at VCA

Excellence in Cabaret, supported by the Melbourne Cabaret Festival – presented by Emma Claire-Ford on behalf of David Read

WINNER: The Unexpected Variety Show

AWARD: Double gold pass to all shows in the Melbourne Cabaret Festival 2012 and an invitation to perform in the Melbourne Cabaret Festival

Best Experimental Performance Award, supported by PACT Centre for Emerging Artists

– presented by Cat Jones

WINNER: Sweet Child of Mine

AWARD: Presentation as part of PACT’s Presents...series in Sydney in 2012

Best Original Australian Work, in Memoriam of Caz Howard, supported by Theatre Works – presented by Dan Clarke

WINNER: The Waiting Place

AWARD: Presentation at Theatre Works in 2012

Best Emerging Writer, supported by Victorian Writers Centre Award, in association wit the Melbourne Theatre Company

WINNER: Dan Giovannoni, Amelia Evans and Paige Rattray for Cut Snake

AWARD: $250 worth of professional development with the Victorian Writer’s Centre; membership with Victorian Writer’s Centre and tickets to Opening Nigh performances at MTC for 2012

Innovation in Culturally Diverse Practice, supported by Kultour – presented by Georgie Sedgwick and Magdalena Moreno

WINNER: In Fact, This Crease in Your Trouser is Good My Friend

AWARD: Development time with Kultour

Presented by Neal Harvey, Creative Producer and Beau McCafferty, Independent Program Producer

Best Cabaret: Pirate Rhapsody, Mermaid Requiem

Best Circus: Freefall

Best Comedy: Lawrence Mooney in An Indecisive Bag of Donuts

Best Dance: proximate edifice

Best Live Art: A Window in Mime

Best Music

WINNER: Musical Thoughts for a Darkened Room

HIGHLY COMMENDED: No Place Like Home

Best Performance: After All This

Best Venue: Revolt

Best Visual Arts: Rendered Bones

People’s Choice Award: Mercedes Benz...Awkwardly

Congratulations to all our artists, volunteers, staff and audiences who made the 2011 Melbourne Fringe Festival such a success.

Can't wait for next year!

WINNER AIR Dale Hardiman and Andre Hnatojko

HIGHLY COMMENDEDConvergenceThom Lentini

Lighting Design Award Sponsored by Rob and Winsome Martin

WINNER Spring Collection III Sally Mill

HIGHLY COMMENDEDCHEW&STICKAndre Hnatojko

Emerging Designer AwardSponsored by Craft Victoria

WINNERTriElizabeth Bowtell

HIGHLY COMMENDEDHere, Now, GoneClaude Marcos

and

Child’s Stacking Stool Gemma James

Best Design Addressing the 2011 Fringe Furniture Theme AwardSupported by ISM Objects

WINNERSpring Collection IISally Mill

HIGHLY COMMENDEDHere, Now, GoneClaude Marcos

A highlight will be two free Sunday afternoon sessions at the Fringe Club, curated and hosted by Melbourne Fringe, that explore ideas around contemporary arts. Click through here to browse the talks program.

 What’s the prize?

• Tickets to Opening Night performances at the MTC for 2012• $250 worth of professional development and membership with Victorian Writer’s Centre

To be eligible for this award please email a word or PDF of your script, the name of the writer/s and the name of the show by 5pm Wednesday 14 September, 2011.

Please send the nominations and any questions via email to bronwyn@melbournefringe.com.au or call 9660 9600.

There is a fine line between satire and defamation, parody and copyright. Interested in the specifics?

We’re very lucky to have Robyn Ayres from Arts Law joining us for our discussion. Arts Law is the national community legal centre for the arts in Australia. Come and have some one-on-one time with an expert, and find out what your rights are as  artists and how you can protect your ideas.  

It's also our last Salon for the year, so come along to say goodbye and good luck before the Festival kicks off!

It’s preferable to RSVP to the Artist Development Coordinator, bronwyn@melbournefringe.com.au, but you can also just rock up.

Don't have an iPhone? Never fear, you can visit tix.melbournefringe.com.au on other phones and still buy tickets on the go.

Form a mentoring relationship with a professional artist of your choice and join a diverse national network of program participants and alumni making their mark on the industry.

Apply for JUMP, the Australia Council’s National Mentoring Program for Young and Emerging Artists.

Applications close 28 October 2011.

Find out more and how to apply here and visit the JUMP website here.

Melbourne Fringe is the Victorian State Delivery Partner for JUMP.

A mentorship is a partnership designed for learning, whereby a more experienced practitioner assists a less established artist in developing their craft. It’s also a chance to share, learn and find out about other people in your networks.

Melbourne Fringe is the State Delivery Partner for JUMP, the national mentoring program for young and emerging artists. JUMP applications open this year on August 22 and close on Friday, October 28.

To hear about applying for JUMP or if you’re interested in mentoring in general, please come along for an open discussion about what mentorship can do for you.

It’s preferable to RSVP to the Artist Development Coordinator, bronwyn@melbournefringe.com.au, but you can also just rock up.

Bruce suggests that you dance. In the dark. It’s a small solution to a big problem.

In 2011 Melbourne Fringe Furniture designers will show us their solutions, swing outs, breakaways and inside turns: tiny dance steps that lead us towards a smarter, greener, healthier, more sustainable and beautiful future.

Registrations will open in July, so start planning now.

Sign up to our e-newsletter The Fix and follow us on Twitter @melbournefringe for updates.

If you have any questions, contact the Fringe office on 03 9660 9600.

Tuesday March 296pm-8pmThe Evelyn, 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Where will your work be shown in this year’s festival?

It’s a daunting task to find the perfect venue. Never fear, the Melbourne Fringe has strategies and insider tips to share about securing the best venue for your festival show. This forum is essential for all 2011 Melbourne Fringe Festival artists, especially those considering being in the Fringe Hub and submitting a Hub EOI. Even if you already have your venue organised this forum will still provide you with invaluable strategies for getting the best from the relationship. We will discuss ways of matching your project with a venue, securing that venue and how to create a strong working relationship with venue managers. The evening will also include unique networking opportunities with select Melbourne venues and Melbourne Fringe staff.

We currently have 2 internships available; Communications Intern and Artist Liaison Intern.

If you’re interested please take a careful look at the Position Descriptions here.  They really do contain all the information you need.  Applications for both internships close on Monday 14 March 2011.

22nd March, 6.30 – 8.00pmThe Evelyn, 351 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Welcome to Melbourne Fringe! This is our first forum for the year and it’s aimed squarely at the artists, musicians, visual artists, performers, circus performers, comedians and cross-disciplinary artists who haven’t been in our incredible Festival before. This is a forum for artists who have always meant to get involved or just haven’t been able to before. On the night you’ll have the opportunity to hear from the Melbourne Fringe team, hear about our year-round artist development programs, network with other Fringe 1st Timers and see where the Melbourne Fringe will fit into your long term creative practice. For more information please contact Bronwyn, our Artist Development Coordinator.

The Victorian artists: Joceline Lee, Jenny Ellis, Bonnie Lane, Drew Pettifer, Peter Reid, Zoe Scoglio, Mia Stanford and Tristan Meecham were recently inducted into the program in an intensive two-day workshop. Throughout 2011 the artists will have the chance to work alongside industry experts as well as present new works.

This is just one of the many ways that Melbourne Fringe supports independent Melbourne artists year round. If you are wondering how we can support you through our diverse and extensive Artist Development programs then please contact Bronwyn, our Artist Development Coordinator.

JUMP, the National Mentoring Program for Young and Emerging Artists, is supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian government’s arts funding and advisory body, through the Opportunities for Young and Emerging Artists initiative. JUMP is managed nationally by Youth Arts Queensland in collaboration with State Delivery Partners, including Melbourne Fringe in Victoria.