he Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 Keep it Fringe fund, an initiative launched in 2023 to support Fringe artists bringing work to the festival. Rooted in the festival’s vision to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat, the fund was created to help artists make the most of the Edinburgh Fringe by removing some of the barriers they face in bringing their work.
Supported by £1 million from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) over two years (2024 and 2025), the Fringe Society is today announcing the successful 180 recipients of £2,500 bursaries this year. The fund received 749 applications, which were reviewed by 30 independent assessors.
This year’s recipients reflect the diversity and variety that makes up the Fringe. Work covers a range of subjects from immigration to fake news and imposter syndrome to séances, ADHD diagnoses to fortune cookies, and sibling dynamics to addiction, with companies and artists covering nearly every genre in the Fringe programme. Representing a mix of free and ticketed shows, 41% of the successful applicants identify as disabled or have a health condition, and more than one in three come from a working-class background.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: ‘The Fringe has launched the careers of generations of comedians, actors and writers by giving them a chance to showcase their work at the largest arts festival in the world. This UK Government funding will help nurture future stars by giving them a helping hand to bring their talent to Edinburgh, while also ensuring the Fringe retains its reputation for supporting up-and-coming artists.’
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘We are massively grateful to DCMS for providing funding that has enabled us to continue the Keep it Fringe fund for another two years. We know that for many artists the financial challenges of putting on a show can prevent some from coming to the Fringe, and this funding will enable the Edinburgh Fringe to be more accessible to artists from across the UK.
‘As one of the greatest platforms for creative expression in the world, the Fringe offers artists the opportunity to gather, network with industry partners and explore future career opportunities. I encourage all artists to continue to reach out to our Artist Services team to see how we can provide further support as we hurtle towards this year's Festival Fringe.’
THE 180 SUCCESSFUL RECIPIENTS OF THE KEEP IT FRINGE FUND (alphabetical):
“Why, Ifrah Why?”
1 Murder: The Mind Reading Lawyer
2 Muslim 2 Furious: Mecca Drift
After Shakespeare - Richard III
Alasdair Wallace & Tom Hutchinson - "Are We Not Men?"
Alexander Bennett: Emotional Daredevil
All the Fraudulent Horse Girls
An Octopus, The Universe n Stuff
Barbara Fernandez Singing, Sagging and Shagging
The Beatbox Collective: 'What's Your Sound?'
Bot Brothers: A Story of Our Times
Burst
Caravan Club with Miss Missy Heavens
The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return
Chris Cook: The Art Of Taking Part
Christian Dart: Bigger Than The Christmas Turkey
Cobin Millage: Fifteen Pints With a Wax Figure of Renowned Painter Pablo Picasso
Deeptime Atomic Waste Pleasure Party
Doom & Glitter: A Tribute To Tom Waits
The Duchess of Buckingham Regrets to Inform You That Her Husband Is Dead
The Duncan Brothers: Blood Sword
Edy Hurst's Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself
Granny Norbag Saves The Planet
Grow
HALF MAN || HALF BULL PART ONE: THESEUS & HALF MAN || HALF BULL PART TWO: DAEDALUS
I am Claire Parry (very funny stand up)
I Did Something I Shouldn't Have
I Really Do Think This Will Change Your Life
I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar
In the Round
Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: LIVE!!!
Kate Hammer: Double Virgin On the Rocks (with a Twist)
Kate-Lois Elliott: How to Belong Without Joining a Cult
LIFE
LIMBO - a sonata for acrobatic violinist and acrobat
Locomotive For Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit
Logan, A One Woman Show (Because only one of us survived)
Louise Atkinson: She's Got The Look
Made of Magic – poetry of rage & (be)longing
Maria Fedulova: Russian. Mafia. Family.
Mark Nicholas This Is Not The Autistic You Are Looking For
My Brain is Soup, Your Hands are the Spoons
Occupational Hazard
Rachel Creeger: Ultimate Jewish Mother
RTFM (Read The F***ing Manual)
Saint
Sam Hickford
Sam Hurst Magic! Mayhem! Memes
Seymour Fucking Mace You Cunts
Sorry (I Broke Your Arms And Legs)
Steffan Alun and Support: Free Stand-Up, but at What Cost
This Porno does not pass the Bechdel Test
This Show Contains No Maths, and other lies
When Judas Met John: Songs of Dylan and Lennon
With the Best Will in the World
Wood Owl and the Box of Wonders
Yvonne Hughes is Absolutely Riddled
Zac Zac Zoom: A Story of Wheels and (F)eels
