Show Starter Commissions
Applications for 2026 Show Starter Commissions are closedWhat is Show Starter? Show Starter is Melbourne Fringe's pitch-driven commissioning program. Victorian artists pitch a new work, and Melbourne Fringe uses its donor network to match compelling projects with up to $10,000 in funding, with projects to premiere at the 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival.
About the Opportunity
Melbourne Fringe is shaking up the way our artists access commissioning support, and we're after your boldest ideas!
Show Starter is our new pitch-driven Expression of Interest, designed to connect high-quality, adventurous work with the right people to fund it. Think of it like matchmaking for the arts: you bring the idea, we bring the network. If your project is viable and exciting, we'll go to bat for you, working our donor relationships hard to find the right match and get your show off the ground.
We're now accepting pitches for new work seeking $10,000 in funding. We know our supporters well, and we know what excites them. All we ask is that you keep your ask practical, but make sure it's enough to actually realise your vision.
While funding isn't guaranteed, this isn't a shot in the dark, it's a curated process where Fringe does the heavy lifting to put your work in front of people who are genuinely invested in seeing new art happen at Melbourne Fringe.
We're open to all genres, and we're especially hungry for work that takes creative risks, pushes boundaries, and points to where the art form is heading next. Projects with co-funding or diverse income streams alongside the commission will be well-placed, but the most important thing is that your idea is compelling, viable, and ready to fly.
Pitch us. We'll find it a home.
Key Details
What the Funding Covers
If successful, you will receive:
Up to $10,000 in cash from the Fringe Fund to produce and present your new idea at the 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival
Not included in the funding offer (i.e. there is no additional funding on top of the awarded amount, you will need to budget the following items):
Your Melbourne Fringe Festival registration fee, ticketing charges, insurance and any other costs associated with producing your work; and
Presentation costs such as venue hire, artist fees, support staff, marketing and promotion costs, permits, licences, etc.
Eligibility
This opportunity is for any artist based in Victoria, working in any form.
Successful recipients will have a proven artistic practice, with 5+ years’ experience in their field, and evidence of fully realised works in their repertoire.
The selected projects must be new works and premiere during the 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival (29 Sept – 18 October 2026).
How the Application Process Works
The Show Starter process has three stages designed to be artist-friendly and low-barrier. You don't need to have all the answers at the EOI stage, we just want to get excited about your idea.
Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)
Complete the EOI form. Tell us what your project is, why it's exciting, and whether it fits any of our specific areas of interest. Keep your funding ask practical; enough to genuinely realise your vision. A $10,000 pitch is often more straightforward to match than a larger ask.
Stage 2: Exploration
A shortlist of applicants will be contacted to explore their idea in more depth, via a meeting, a phone call, email, or a request for additional documentation. We'll guide you through any questions in advance. Progressing to this stage means we're actively working to find your project a match, though funding is not yet guaranteed.
Stage 3: Matchmaking
Selected applicants meet with Melbourne Fringe to receive the outcomes of the matchmaking process: how much funding we've secured, and any conditions attached. This is the final opportunity for both parties to ask questions before a contract is signed and your commission is confirmed.
A Match Made in Heaven: Priority Areas of Interest
To help us match your pitch to the right donor, we've identified specific areas of interest that some of our funders are keenly looking to support. During your EOI, you'll have the opportunity to indicate if your work fits one or more of these areas.
Please note: Your EOI will not be disadvantaged if it does not fit into one of these areas of interest. Not all donors will fall into these categories, although they do serve as a helpful starting point for us to open up a conversation.
Pulse Program
Pulse is one of Melbourne Fringe's curated program streams, showcasing bold and ambitious artmaking from leading Australian artists who push the boundaries of form. Pulse works question, provoke, or shift social discussion through urgent or challenging content and themes: vital, relevant, contemporary performance that showcases the creative risk-taking and fierce ambition of the independent sector.
Other Focus Areas:
We have strong relationships with donors who we know are interested in the following areas of focus:
Feminist work – feminist politics, practice and/or theory embedded within the work
Queer work – queer politics, practice and/theory embedded within the work. High representation of queer creatives.
Musical theatre (new writing) – new bold works of musical theatre
Work led by BIPOC artists – work created by and/or centring the voices, stories and perspectives of artists of colour
Chinese language or bilingual work – work performed in Mandarin, Cantonese or other Chinese languages, or that moves between Chinese and English
Works in these areas may also fit the Pulse program stream if artistically appropriate, but in most cases will sit within the Open Program.
How to apply
Applications for 2026 Show Starter Commissions are now closed.
If using Airtable isn’t accessible for you, please get in touch so we can better understand how to best accommodate your access needs. We can accept applications submitted as text documents, video or audio files and are also happy to work with you on other accessible application processes. Please email both [email protected] and [email protected] to start a conversation, or call the Melbourne Fringe office by phone or the National Relay Service at (03) 9660 9600.
You can find more details on the application process and format below.
Application & Selection Process
As part of your application, you will be asked to provide a creative pitch of your project. We want to know who you are and who you plan to work with on the project, and how these funds might be used to make your idea a reality. We will then ask for a draft timeline for your development and give you an opportunity to tell us anything else you think is important for us to know. Finally, we will ask for a top-level budget that will show you have thought about the practical nature of your idea.
Things we’re looking out for
In selecting the projects to take to the next step, Exploration, we will consider the following criteria:
Concept:
does your project put forward exciting ideas and creative thinking? Is it something new that we might not have funded before? Does it add something unique and exciting to what is already being presented in the independent sector?
Capacity:
do you have the skills and the team to present what you want to achieve? Will you be able to deliver a high-quality outcome for your project on the budget you are proposing? Are you aiming for best practice accessibility and inclusivity?
Questions you will be asked
Whether you are providing written answers on the EOI form or an alternative method, you will need to provide us with answers to the following questions:
What is the current title of the idea you are proposing?
This can just be a "working title" for now!
Tell us a bit about your project.
What do you want to do? How will the project be presented? How do you imagine the audience would experience your event? What do you hope to change or achieve with this work? What is the genre/form? What themes are you engaging with? (2,500 character limit, or approximately 400 words).
Please tell us a bit about yourself and your experience making work of a similar style.
We want to know about your past work, your skills, your inspirations, and what is most important to you in creating art. By “you” we mean you personally, as well as any other people that you consider as a “lead artist” on this work. As part of this you can share some highlights of your past work with us, and you may also provide links to up to three reviews. Please also give us a sense for your level of experience in making art: do you feel at the beginning of your career, or well established in your practice? (1,200 character limit, or approximately 200 words)
Please provide a brief list of any other key people who are involved with you on this project.
Are there other creatives involved? Do you have a producer yet? Who else is helping you make this happen? As part of this: also let us know if you have a venue presentation partner in mind, or if you need our help to find one. And please make it clear whether your proposed team members and presentation partner have been approached already, or if they are just ideas for now. (1,200 character limit, or approximately 200 words)
Does your project above fit within the provocation of Pulse?
Please ensure you have read the information available above for context before answering. Do you think your idea fits within the Pulse program stream? If 'YES' you will be asked to explain how. This question will help us place and pitch your work to the right people, you will not be disadvantaged by answering 'NO'. (Yes/No)
If yes, How does your project fit within our Pulse program? Please elaborate on how your idea pushes boundaries of form and style, and/or provokes or shifts social discussion through urgent, challenging content and themes. (1,200 character limit, or approximately 200 words)
Does your project match any identifies areas of interest?
Please ensure you have read the information available above for context before answering. Do you think your idea meaningfully engages with any areas of interest? Please select all that apply. If you select an area/areas of interest, you will be asked to explain how. This question will help us place and pitch your work to the right people, you will not be disadvantaged by answering 'NO'.
For each area selected, you will be prompted to speak to that specific area in more detail. We are asking for you to consider the themes and content of the work, the methods of exploration and communication within the project, and the desired outcomes and experiences. Please write this as an elevator pitch that could be shared with arts supporters who share this area of interest. (1,200 character limit, or approximately 200 words).
If you select “No” to Question 5 and Question 6, you will still have an opportunity to give us the elevator pitch for your idea, we just won’t ask you to speak to a specific area of interest.
What amount of funding are you applying for?
Applicants are encouraged to be realistic in the request up to $10,000 and should note that we will be assessing for viability before we reach out to any potential funders.
Do you have any confirmed or pending co-investment from other funding sources, presentation partners, venues, or personal investment?
Please specify the nature of the co-investment (grant, presentation, venue, personal), and $ value, and if it is pending or confirmed. If pending, please note expected timelines for confirmation. (1,200 character limit - approximately 200 words)
Please provide a top-level budget.
This must demonstrate that you have thought about the practical nature of your idea, please provide the total value of each main budget category of the project, not just what you would use this money to fund. You can also share a link to a draft budget; please ensure link sharing is enabled. (2,500 character limit, or approximately 400 words).
Anything else you want to tell us? (optional)
This is a chance to mention anything you think is important that these questions haven't asked you. (1,200 character limit - approximately 200 words)
Do you have any access requirements for us to be aware of at this stage? (optional)
You may provide one weblink to up to 5 minutes of video highlights or a link to your website (optional)
We want this application process to be as easy and straightforward as possible, so we are not requiring any supporting documentation as part of your application.
However, if you have a video highlight reel of past work (please, no more than 5 minutes!), or a link to a website that represents your past work, you may do so here. If you don't have these things, don't worry! We don't want you creating a video highlight reel just for this application. We will be selecting recipients primarily on their idea, so we only want this additional information if you already have it prepared.
Important: if a video longer than five minutes is provided the panel will be instructed to watch only the first five minutes of content.
Context and Expectations for Funded Artists
Receiving support through the Fringe Fund isn’t quite the same as a grant, but it isn’t quite the same as having your work bought by a curated Festival – it falls somewhere in-between. That’s because we’re raising money from trusts, foundations, government bodies and private donors, and we’ll need your help to ensure certain deliverables are met so we can acquit those funds. It’s the circle of (funding) life.
If we’re successful in raising funds for your idea, you will be asked to sign a contract that requires an understanding of the expectations that we will have from you as a Fringe Fund artist, which are:
1. You will self-produce a professional, high-quality event in the Open Access program.
This means: the Fringe Fund support will help your event proceed, but you (or your team!) are responsible for all elements of the production, including:
- managing a creative project plan and schedule that will ensure your project is delivered as a fully realised work, not a work-in-progress or ‘reading’;
- budgeting for costs responsibly, ensuring you have put aside funds for the Fringe registration fee, inside charges, venue hire costs and access service costs;
- producing the event to a high standard of delivery, and completing administration tasks such as registering the event and arranging permits / licences / insurance, etc;
- marketing your season; and
- sourcing any additional funding required through sponsorship, partnerships or grants.
This is quite different to having your work purchased for presentation by a festival that pays an upfront fee, then takes care of all the producing on your behalf! On the other hand, you are presenting your work as an independent season, which means the show profits are retained by you and your team.
2. You will work collaboratively with Melbourne Fringe.
This means: Melbourne Fringe is a key stakeholder in your event, unlike a standard grant where the funder just wants an acquittal report at the end. Because we have a vested interest in the success of your work, we may ask you to collaborate with Melbourne Fringe in certain ways while working on your project. We won’t encroach on your artistic vision, but we might offer support including:
- dramaturgical advice to help you position the work for a Melbourne Fringe audience;
- advice or feedback for your budget, to help you work towards financial success; or
- inclusion in marketing or publicity opportunities; or
- suggesting the scale of your project might require you to allocate funds towards a producer, production manager or designer to help you achieve your creative vision.
To support you in this way, we will ask that you:
- update us on the creative development of the project, and share your project timeline, budget and marketing plan (once they’re ready to share of course!);
- attend occasional meetings to discuss the work’s progress and how we can better support you;
- be open and available to listen to our feedback, built on many years of experience.
You may also be asked, as part of your funding: to participate in a public panel / conversation event discussing your work (no more than 60 minutes of your time), and/or to collaborate in our evaluation processes (which could consist of a brief interview with a member of our team, a self-filmed video reflecting on your experience, or a short survey – but definitely no long acquittal forms!)
We don’t require a share of the work’s intellectual property, but we do ask for permission to film or photograph the event for marketing, promotional and archival purposes. We also ask that you keep us updated on any future seasons of the work, and always credit Melbourne Fringe as an original funder.
Questions or Enquiries
If you want to discuss other ways to submit your application or have questions about this info pack, please contact us. Send your email to [email protected]. Alternatively, you may phone our office: Melbourne Fringe on (03) 9660 9600
If you would like to discuss access provisions at Melbourne Fringe more broadly, or would like to discuss how Melbourne Fringe holds safe cultural spaces for d/Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent artists please email our Access Advisor, Carly Findlay: [email protected] or call our office on a Monday or Tuesday and ask for Carly.
Submission Due Date
Expressions of interest are now closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival runs from 29 September to 18 October 2026. Your commissioned work must premiere during this period.
The artist retains full ownership of the work. Melbourne Fringe holds the right to premiere the work at the 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival and to photograph or film it for documentation and marketing purposes. All intellectual property remains with the artist and their team.
The intention with Show Starter is to commission new works – however, we’re definitely open to ideas of how you might redevelop an existing work in a new or exciting way. If you have done a development before, or perhaps a work-in-progress showing or season – that’s OK! As long as, hand on heart, you can say this is the premiere first season, it’ll probably be fine. If you’re unsure of whether your new ideas would make it a “new work” or not, please just get in touch!
We mean that we will be prioritising projects that consider access and inclusion as central to the concept. If you haven’t already had a chance to read it, please make sure you check out our Accessibility Zone for ideas of how to embed access into your early planning.
We have a commitment to ensuring that events Melbourne Fringe funds collectively represent the breadth of Melbourne’s diverse communities, and we have specific quotas and targets of funding allocations towards our communities of focus, which include artists who are: First Nations, People of Colour, culturally and linguistically diverse people, d/Deaf, Disabled, and LGBTQIA+ people with a separate quota to specifically support transgender artists. Assigning quotas to our funding allocations ensures that we are properly representing lead artists from these communities.
No, funding is not guaranteed. However, Show Starter is not a shot in the dark. It's a curated process where Melbourne Fringe actively works its donor relationships on your behalf. Progressing to the Exploration stage means the team is actively seeking a match for your project.
All applications, in any format, must be submitted by 11:59pm on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.