Sustain Fringe

The stories we tell tomorrow begin with what we sustain today. 

Forty-five years ago, our community made a bold commitment: to create a space where anyone can be an Artist, everyone has a story to tell, and audiences and Artists come together in celebration of creativity, curiosity, and connection. 

That choice continues to shape Edmonton today. What began here in 1982 has grown far beyond our city, inspiring a movement of Fringe Festivals across North America and rippling across Canada’s artistic landscape. Generations of Artists have found their voice, launched careers, and shared stories because this community believes in the power of saying yes. 

Every August, hundreds of thousands of arts lovers gather on the Fringe Festival grounds to laugh, cry, cheer, and discover something unexpected. More than 1,600 Artists share their work on stages scattered across neighbourhoods. Families make memories at KidsFringe. Strangers become friends. And for eleven magical days, our city feels a little brighter, a little braver, and a little more connected. 

But Fringe has always been about more than the stories we tell today. 

It’s about the stories still waiting to be told. 

One of the ways Artists access our Festival is through our Lottery program. Every Artist drawn in our Lottery program receives more than $15,000 of in-kind support including a venue, lights, sound, two technicians, marketing and box office supports, mentorship, and so much more. It is, quite simply, the most affordable and accessible way for Artists to bring their stories to life. 

This year, more than 530 Artists applied for 90 Lottery spots. That number fills us with hope.

 It reminds us that creativity is abundant. That Artists are dreaming big. That there are countless stories, perspectives, and voices waiting for their moment. 

With support from our community, we can continue to help more Artists find their stage. 

Your gift also helps keep KidsFringe free for families; ensures Artists receive 100% of the base ticket price; engages 1,000 Volunteers; and sustains a vibrant home for connection and belonging year-round at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns. 

Every gift matters.  

And monthly gifts provide steady support that help us plan confidently for our essential operations and keep Artists in the spotlight. 

Because the next unforgettable story; the next standing ovation; the next Artist who takes a chance? They’re already out there.  

Together, we can make sure there’s always a stage waiting for them. 

Sustain Fringe. Become a monthly donor or make a gift today.

Watch our 2025 Sustain Fringe Update

Read our blog to learn more about how you can help Sustain Fringe.

Did You Know?

Cancelling the 2020 Festival was a $3 million loss in revenue for our organization. While we have celebrated incredible successes in the post-pandemic regrowth of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival thanks to the ongoing support of Funders, Sponsors, and Donors, we are still recovering.

And we are not alone. Based on industry insights, what was previously believed to be a three-to-five-year recovery window in the arts is now being estimated at a 10-year post-pandemic rebuild.

• The number of Canadian performance arts companies has decreased by 25.9% and the number of promoters and festivals has decreased by 18.5% since 2019.(2)
• 80% of charities are experiencing a staggering increase in the cost to deliver services. (3)
• The pandemic triggered a demand crisis for more than 57% of charities across the country. (3)

Without immediate support, our Festival will look and feel very different.

Our Impact

Despite growing challenges, Fringe Theatre stands as a testament to the resilience and the transformative power of the arts.

Fringe by the Numbers:

• Over the 11 days of our Festival, we ignite more than $20 Million in local economic impact annually. (6) Artists in Fringe-run Festival venues receive more than $15,000 in support per production each year.
• We returned $1.29 Million in ticket sales directly to Artists in 2024.
• We welcome more than 750,000 site visits each year. (4)
• Festival-goers attend an average of 3.4 times over the 11 days of Festival, (compared to a 1.2 average number of visits for other events similar in scope and scale). (4)
• 84% of Festival-goers rated their experience at least an 8/10, and 40% rated their experience a 10/10. (4)
• 96% of our Festival goers say their Fringe experience exceeded their expectations. (5)
• 95% of Fringers believe it is important for businesses to support major events like ours, and 71% of Fringers believe that Sponsors enhance the Fringe experience. (5)

We drive the arts ecology here at home, across Canada, and around the world. Supporting Fringe is one of the most impactful ways you can support the performing arts.

When you support Fringe Theatre you:

• Provide resources for 1,600 Festival Artists each year;
• Create more than 250 jobs for Arts Workers;
• Uplift 1,000 Volunteers;
• Subsidize accessible performance space for more than 500 year-round arts events;
• Help us grow our awards that support the creation of new work, playwrights, equity-seeking artists, and emergency artist relief funds; and
• Ensure we continue delivering exceptional community-minded programming, including: KidsFringe, Youth Empowerment, pêhonân Series, Community Care, Fringe Grounds Cafe, Offer What You Will Ticket Program, Relaxed Performances, and so much more!

Visit our online donor wall where we celebrate all of our donors!

If you wish to make a gift by phone, please call 780-448-9000.

To make a gift by mail, please send your donation to:

Fringe Theatre
Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
10330 84 Ave NW
Edmonton AB T6E 2G9

Fringe Theatre Adventures Society is a registered charity. Charitable Registration No: 11885 3506 RR0001

Sources

1 “Stone-Olafson and Rosza Foundation Spotlight on Arts Audiences Wave 1: Edmonton Report.” Stone-Olafson & The Rosza Foundation, 2024.

2 “COVID Impact Statistics – Canadian Association for the Performing Arts.” Canadian Association for the Performing Arts, 17 Jan. 2024, capacoa.ca/en/research/covid-impact-statistics.

3 “The Giving Report 2023 | CanadaHelps – Donate to Any Charity in Canada.” CanadaHelps – Donate to Any Charity in Canada, 10 Apr. 2023, www.canadahelps.org/en/the-giving-report.

4 “Fringe Festival Audience Experience Research.” Stone-Olafson, 2022.

5 “Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Audience Experience Survey.” Fringe Theatre Adventures, 2023.

6 “Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Tourism Growth Report.” Enigma Research, 2014.