Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has launched Fringemas Fundraiser: a new Crowdfunder campaign to help continue the ongoing work of the charity.

Following on from a very difficult year, in which the 2020 Edinburgh Festival Fringe was unable to go ahead as planned, the Fringe Society is aiming to raise £25,000 in this latest campaign, which runs until 17 December.

The Fringe Society is a charity that exists to support everyone who wants to participate in the Fringe. It is currently raising vital funds to allow the organisation to help bring back the festival in 2021, to support artists and other participants to ensure they come back stronger in 2021, to provide information and assistance to audiences, to continue our work in strengthening the Fringe’s accessibility and diversity, and to help us keep connecting young people in Edinburgh with the arts.

Supporters of the Crowdfunder will receive some fabulous festive rewards in return for donating, including a limited-edition Hamilton poster signed by creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who performed at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Assembly with his rap improv group Freestyle Love Supreme; a signed book from comedian and author Adam Kay, who sold out his run at the Playhouse in 2019; a signed CD from Fringe stalwart and musician Camille O’Sullivan, who enjoyed a hugely successful run at Pleasance in 2019 and has been returning to the festival since 2004; a signed book from comedian and fellow Playhouse alumni Joe Lycett; and a script signed by performer Richard Gadd, whose Fringe First-winning Baby Reindeer appeared at Summerhall. Gadd also won an Edinburgh Comedy Award for his hit show, Monkey See Monkey Do at The Banshee Labyrinth.

In addition to the selection of alumni goodies on offer, supporters can donate in return for a trio of Fringe Christmas baubles. 

To find out more about the fundraiser, and to donate, please visit crowdfunder.co.uk/fringemas-fundraiser.

How the funds will be used to support the Fringe Society’s work

The impact of the Fringe not taking place in 2020 has been enormous. Thousands of artists, venues and creatives rely on this important festival every year, and at the Fringe Society, we’ve been doing everything we can to help ensure the Fringe survives, stabilises and strengthens.

Funds raised via this crowdfunding campaign will go to the Fringe Society, the charity that underpins the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, so that we can continue working towards our charitable objectives.

• Providing crucial support for artists and venues to help them return to the Fringe in 2021, after an incredibly difficult year.
• Continuing our work to make the Fringe as inclusive and accessible as possible.
• Connecting young people in Edinburgh with the arts has been at the core of our work for decades, and we’ve kept this going in 2020, with workshops in schools to develop creativity skills in learners and encourage participation in the arts.
• We've also continued working with local community groups, ensuring the arts are available to those who might normally face barriers to taking part.