2019 Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund Opens New-Look Grants Program

Australia's largest arts festival is shaking up the way it provides grants to independent performers as part of the 2019 Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund, for which applications open today.

This year, grants provided by the Fund will be separated into two funding streams - Make It Happen and Innovate - and will be distributed in varying amounts depending on the artists' needs.

Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said having a more transparent application process would make the Artist Fund more accessible for a larger cross section of artists and companies.

"We've revised our grants program in response to artist's feedback and to ensure that the money we're giving out can be tailored to their needs," Ms Croall said.

The Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund was established in 2014 and has since delivered nearly $200,000 in grants to help independent Australian artists present a show in the Adelaide Fringe. The 2019 Fund is set to award up to $90,000 - up from the record $84,000 delivered for last year's festival.

Ms Croall said the funding helped alleviate some of the financial risks that independent artists take by presenting their show in the festival.

"The Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund supports all forms of expression and allows ground-breaking works to flourish. Some of these works wouldn't be possible without our support, and we know that our grants can help artists leverage other funding for their shows, so they can make a huge difference," Ms Croall said.

Make It Happen Grants will provide financial assistance across three categories - travel, marketing and production - to support artists in covering the costs of their Fringe season.

The Innovate Grant will support daring and diverse new projects that will premiere at the 2019 Adelaide Fringe and have an ongoing 'life' after the festival - including future touring or presentation opportunities.

Ms Croall said many of the previous Artist Fund recipients had seen their work go on to be presented across Australia and overseas.

"We're so proud to support exciting and daring work in the early stages of development, and it's encouraging to see so many of our Artist Fund recipients going on to scale new heights," Ms Croall said.

Brisbane's Black Honey Company was awarded a $10,000 Artist Fund grant to premiere Hot Brown Honey at the 2015 Adelaide Fringe. The group went on to tour the work internationally and last year received a Helpmann Award for Best Cabaret.

"Hot Brown Honey is a great success story for the Fund, and we hope it inspires more artists to apply for grants," Ms Croall said.

Last year's recipients included Not Today's Yesterday by South Australian artist Lina Limosani, who won a Peace Foundation Award and BankSA Best Dance at the 2018 BankSA Fringe Awards.

Applications for the 2019 Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund close on Friday, July 20. For more information, please visit adelaidefringe.com.au/adelaide-fringe-artist-fund or contact the Adelaide Fringe Artist & Venues team at artists@adelaidefringe.com.au or on 8100 2022.

The 2019 Adelaide Fringe will run from February 15 to March 17.

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