Brighton Fringe to make next year’s festival as affordable as possible for artists during the cost of living crisis

Lead pic: The Big Drag Pageant 2022 at the Brighton Spiegeltent. Photo by Danny Fitzpatrick – DFphotography.co.uk

Brighton Fringe is set to open its registration for the 2023 festival, which will take place Friday, May 5 – Sunday, June 4, with a focus on being as affordable as possible for artists during the cost of living crisis.

In 2022, Brighton Fringe showcased over 4,000 performances of 765 events at 124 venues in Brighton, Hove and beyond, with an estimated attendance of 400,000 people, and an economic impact of £14 million for the local economy.

Registration opens on Wednesday, October 12. With the current economic situation in the United Kingdom in mind, Brighton Fringe has frozen registration fees for 2023 and is offering those wishing to register an event a 30% discount if registered before 5pm on Friday, November 25.

Brighton Fringe will be offering its largest ever bursary programme, partnering with local and national organisations, including Brighton & Hove Pride, South East Dance, Bird & Blend Tea Co. and the Pebble Trust, to offer participants free registration fees as well as mentoring support and cash grants. The bursary programme allows those who may not otherwise be able to participate in Brighton Fringe the opportunity to stage an event with reduced financial risk.

The festival will once again offer the opportunity to stage on-demand digital events at a reduced cost compared to in-person events, so audiences can enjoy the festival from the comfort of their own home.

Brighton Fringe will also be running its entirely free education programme of Fringe Academy events for those wanting to engage in the arts and put on their own Brighton Fringe event, with workshops such as My First Fringe, How to Crowdfund and an Arts Council England Projects Grant Surgery.

As the organisation feels the pinch from current inflation and price rises, Brighton Fringe will not be producing a printed brochure in 2023 but will instead invest in its digital platforms, its website and box office system.

In 2023, Brighton Fringe will ask its audience to #JourneyIntoFringe and discover a month-long adventure of theatre, comedy, cabaret, circus, music, dance, tours, exhibitions, workshops, and workshops events. With opportunities to enjoy free events and purchase Name Your Price tickets alongside a large concessions programme, everyone will be able to #JourneyIntoFringe.

Julian Caddy, Brighton Fringe CEO, said “As we have emerged from the pandemic, with the current economic uncertainty, in many ways we are all still in survival mode. The arts sector remains extremely vulnerable, so as a festival that provides an open-access platform for people of all backgrounds and perspectives to take part, we aim to keep costs as low as possible, whilst still improving services wherever we can.”

If you are interested in taking part in Brighton Fringe 2023, Brighton Fringe will be celebrating registration opening at their Registration Launch at the Ledward Centre (14a Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE) on Thursday, October 13, 5.30-7.30pm.

There will be presentations on how to take part in Brighton Fringe as well as the opportunity to network with Brighton Fringe participants, venue managers and partners, and ask any questions you may have of the Brighton Fringe team.

The first release of tickets for Brighton Fringe 2023 will go on sale on Thursday, December 1 for Friends of Brighton Fringe, and Friday, December 2 for the public. Sign up to be a Friend of Fringe via their website, and enjoy priority booking and exclusive offers.

To stay up to date with all the latest news from Brighton Fringe, sign up to their newsletter HERE.

To take part in Brighton Fringe 2023, CLICK HERE