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61-492: Mercury CX , formerly Media Resource Centre ( MRC ), is a not-for-profit film and television training organisation based in the Lion Arts Centre on the corner of Morphett Street and North Terrace, Adelaide , South Australia, which aims to give screening opportunities to emerging South Australian film, video and digital media artists. It also manages the not-for-profit Mercury Cinema , which shows films by subscription to
122-571: A community media organisation, at the same time. The Mercury and Iris cinemas were created next door and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992. In 2019 the MRC director was Gail Kovatseff. During the COVID-19 pandemic in South Australia , the cinema was forced to close for a while from March 2020. During this time, renovations were undertaken, with the foyer transformed into a lounge bar. The organisation
183-459: A large number of unofficial events: the programme listed 41 exhibitions listed and 20 performances; unofficial events included 50 exhibitions, 10 performances and many other events. In 1975 the fringe became an incorporated association, and thus "legal", with writer and director Frank Ford as its founding chairman. Its name was Focus Inc., with the focus on the development of South Australian culture. The change of name caused some controversy at
244-616: A larger location in Pirie Street in the 1980s, where it provided a venue to screen local filmmakers' works as well as other independent, community or hard-to-find international films; it also provided equipment space for filmmakers to work on their projects and network with others. In 1992 the MRC moved to the purpose-built Lion Arts Centre , located in a refurbished factory in the West End of Adelaide and housing numerous arts organisations, including galleries and theatres. It merged with Commedia,
305-507: A low-budget feature film which is premiered at the next AFF. Not-for-profit A not-for-profit or non-for-profit organization ( NFPO ) is a legal entity that does not distribute surplus funds to its members and is formed to fulfill specific objectives. An NFPO does not earn profit for its owners, as any revenue generated by its activities must be put back into the organization. While not-for-profit organizations and non-profit organizations (NPO) are distinct legal entities,
366-720: A school holiday programme. The Cinema also hosts film festivals, some one-off and some annual occurrences. In the latter group are a programme of the best films from the Flickerfest (a Sydney festival for short films), films from the Adelaide Festival Centre 's OzAsia Festival , selected films for the Adelaide Film Festival , and the Iranian Film Festival Australia (which occurs in most of Australia's capital cities). The Screen Makers Conference
427-551: A week after the Fringe), which includes Adelaide Writers' Week and the four-day world music festival WOMADelaide, as well as the Adelaide 500 street circuit motor racing event, with accompanying its evening music concerts. Adelaide Fringe begins with free opening night celebrations (for many years a street parade and/or opening night party; as of 2019 an opening ceremony followed by party), and free as well as ticketed events continue for
488-575: Is a membership-based association , which holds charitable status . It has a constitution and a board of directors to oversee its management. Since December 2022 and as of August 2024 the board is chaired by , while the CEO is Karena Slaninka. The organisation was in the past funded by Screen Australia . As of May 2022 it receives A$ 250,000 annually from the South Australian Film Corporation specifically to support talent development in
549-497: Is an annual national conference hosted by the MRC since 2014, and aims to "[bring] together Australia’s writers, directors, producers and other screen creatives to share knowledge, connect with the industry, and pitch projects to the national marketplace". It is regarded as one of two major annual conferences for filmmakers, the other being the Australian International Documentary Conference . In 2018
610-607: Is governed by the Adelaide Fringe Board, which employs a director and CEO, a deputy director and a large team of adjunct staff to manage various aspects of the festival. A number of major contributors to the history of the Fringe have been named as life members, including the founder, the late founder, Frank Ford . Heather Croall is the CEO and Director from 2015 to 2020. Greg Clarke was CEO and director 2011–2014. Sandy Verschoor
671-683: The Adelaide Cinémathèque film society, screening classic or notable films and hosts film festivals and other events. Mercury CX hosts the Screenmakers Conference and the South Australian Screen Awards . The Media Resource Centre was established in 1974 and is one of the earliest members of the Screen Development Australia ( SDA ) national network. It moved from its first location at 1 Union Street to
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#1732891691721732-637: The Adelaide Festival of Arts , another major arts festival starting a week after the Fringe, which includes Adelaide Writers' Week and the four-day world music festival WOMADelaide , and also the Adelaide 500 street circuit motor racing event, with accompanying evening music concerts. The Fringe attracts many international visitors as well as from all over Australia, and in 2019 generated an estimated A$ 95.1 million in gross economic expenditure for South Australia, which included A$ 36.6 million in spending by
793-571: The Australian film industry . The Marshall government gave emergency funding of A$ 300,000 in September 2021 to support ongoing operations. In 2022 Mercury CX submitted a funding request for an ongoing operating budget of A$ 700,000 to A$ 1.2 million , but it was refused by the newly-elected South Australian government under Peter Malinauskas , based on a report prepared by the Marshall government. At
854-529: The Edinburgh Festival Fringe ), held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide . Between mid-February and mid-March each year, it features more than 7,000 artists from around Australia and the world. Over 1,300 events are staged in hundreds of venues, which include work in a huge variety of performing and visual art forms. The Fringe features many free events occur alongside ticketed events for
915-726: The Odeon Theatre, Norwood and the National Wine Centre (a convention centre with wine bar and restaurant). Small venues make up about 50% of ticket total sales. The popular live music venue "The Gov" is used for Fringe events of all kinds. In 2012, the Government of South Australia partnered with the South Australian Tourism Commission to create the Adelaide Fringe Ambassador role to promote
976-525: The 1992 change to Adelaide Fringe Festival. It has grown from a two-week long, biennial festival to a major annual international festival. The Edinburgh Award , worth A$ 10,000 , was introduced by Arts South Australia in 2017, open to local Adelaide Fringe artists who wish to tour their work to the Edinburgh Fringe. The Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide Festival of Arts are separate organisations, with different philosophies and intent. The Adelaide Fringe
1037-494: The 2.7 million attendees. Each year has brought a new record in all aspects of the festival for many years up to 2020. Founded in 1960 as a loose collection of official (coordinated by the Festival of Arts) and unofficial events run by local artists, and initially seen as adjunct to the main Festival of Arts, the Fringe became an incorporated body in 1975, with the 1976 festival named Focus and later Adelaide Festival Fringe , before
1098-409: The 2021 Fringe (19 February – 21 March), but future planning was hampered by uncertainty caused by the global pandemic and consequent greater financial risk to performers and venues. However, the festival did go ahead, with 40,000 tickets sold by 18 February 2021. It proved to be the largest arts festival in the world in both 2020 and 2021, with South Australia not as badly affected as many places by
1159-587: The ABC and SBS . In 2019 it expanded to three days, partnered with television production company Screentime and also included video games in its remit. The Media Resource Centre has run the South Australian Screen Awards (SASAs) since establishing them in 1999, to "exhibit, celebrate and promote the best screen works of the South Australian film industry". These are awarded in conjunction with
1220-508: The AGM on 31 May 2022, members voted unanimously to oppose closing down the organisation. CEO Slaninka said that extra funding was need to help the cinema recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Australia , and that a "Save the Mercury" campaign to raise funds would be launched. Mercury CX is a not-for-profit incorporated association which provides facilities for career development in
1281-534: The Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2018.) In April 2016, the "Made in Adelaide" initiative was announced by the state government, which provided funds totalling A$ 55,000 to support nine acts taking their work to the Edinburgh Fringe, to help build connections between the two festivals. In August 2016, the Fringe began an official partnership with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival . Among the acts
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#17328916917211342-685: The Adelaide Fringe across Australia and overseas. The Adelaide Fringe Ambassador also participates in the Adelaide Fringe Opening Night Parade and performs during the Fringe. The first "fringe" event came about in 1960, when a few artists decided to stage their own events in response to the exclusion of many local and smaller-scale artists from the curated Adelaide Festival of Arts. Fringe activities consisted of local visual arts, crafts, performing arts and amateur theatre groups organising productions, exhibitions and events alongside
1403-547: The Adelaide Fringe would receive extra government funding (totalling $ 2 million) to enable it to become an annual event from 2007 onwards. In 2007, the Adelaide Fringe became an annual event, after receiving funding from the state government of A$ 500,000 , which was deemed a success. In 2007, 130,000 tickets were sold through the FringeTIX box office system – with an additional 10,000 ticket sales by national ticketing partners. In 2008, about 187,000 tickets were sold through
1464-506: The Australian Arts". In 1982, the name on the poster, with a design by Pro Hart , changed to Adelaide Festival Fringe. In that year there were 50 venues, 86 groups or individual artists, as well as 56 visual arts exhibitions in the city venues. There were also 16 groups doing performances in schools and public spaces. In 1988 the festival opened its doors to international artists, and the early 1990s brought further big changes, creating
1525-577: The Conference attracted over 200 delegates, including Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason and Kingston Anderson from the Australian Directors' Guild , independent filmmaker and educator Cathy Henkel , Rowan Woods , currently head of directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School , senior managers from several major national TV companies as well as the government-owned broadcasters,
1586-411: The Festival and running for two weeks. According to Fringe Vault, "These events that have been called 'unofficial fringe activities' formed the beginnings of the 'Fringe'. These were seen as separate to any 'unofficial activity supported by the festival' which were listed in the 1960 Festival of Arts Festival Souvenir Programme under Festival Attractions, other Events and other Exhibitions ". In 1962,
1647-433: The Festival of Arts, it was held biennially, for three weeks. Both approved and unapproved events had grown in number. Significant productions of two Patrick White plays, The Ham Funeral and Night on Bald Mountain , staged by local performers in 1961 and 1964 respectively after being refused by the main Festival, served to cement the status of what started being referred to in the press as "Fringe" events. In 1970,
1708-667: The Fringe Parade, and 367,000 tickets were sold, a 10% increase on 2011 sales. Ticket sales equated to an approximate value of A$ 9 million . The event featured over 4,000 artists and 923 events, in 300 venues. There were 20% more events than in 2011. CEO Greg Clarke launched the event not only in Adelaide, but also at the Sydney Opera House and in Federation Square in Melbourne . There were also two big changes on opening night:
1769-434: The FringeTIX box office and their ticketing partners. 281 Fringe venues sold tens of thousands of tickets on the door. Family Day became Family Weekend and doubled in size and attendances. The final box office income was estimated to reach over A$ 5.3 million , the majority of which was passed back to Fringe artists. In 2009, pre-event ticket sales equalled that of the previous year. 2,800 artists featured in 250 venues across
1830-490: The Lion Arts Centre, facing Morphett Street. As a not-for-profit organisation, there is a film society, Adelaide Cinémathèque, members of which can attend regularly scheduled films. The Iris is available for hire as a venue, and is used for Adelaide Fringe performances as well as for many other uses. The Cinema also runs a series of programmes on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, such as Sunday Sessions and Seniors on Screen, and
1891-537: The Mercury CX's career development program, Springboard+ (formerly Springboard). Since 2021, Mercury CX has participated in the Film Lab: New Voices initiative launched by the South Australian Film Corporation and Adelaide Film Festival (AFF). This program supports emerging filmmakers, with three teams selected for mentoring over an 11-month development period and one team then selected for funding to complete
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1952-466: The Screenmakers' Conference, and in 2019 awarded A$ 40,000 of prizes, including two new awards: best costume, and best hair & makeup. The Mercury CX supports developing South Australian filmmakers via its own programs and in collaboration with other organisations. Its Production Initiative Program (PIP) which funded five shorts and web series in 2020. Selected projects are often then developed in
2013-486: The boundaries of Adelaide, into regional centres. The Fringe celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2020. While the 2020 Fringe was the first in years to see a decrease in the number of registered events ("over 1200", compared with 1320 in 2019), the events were more widely spread, with half of the venues outside Adelaide city centre , including both suburban and regional locations such as Stirling , Gawler and Murray Bridge . The World Fringe Congress, first held in 2012,
2074-478: The buildings along North Terrace on every night of the 31-day festival. More than 6,900 artists performed in 1,231 events across 442 venues. Box office revenue reached A$ 16.6 million from 705,761 tickets sold (up 7 per cent). The event also saw a greater share going into artists' pockets, after A$ 1 million of funding from the state government enabled the Fringe to abolish inside charges for artists with tickets under $ 35, and to halve those for all others. The move
2135-439: The city as well as in the suburbs. Accessibility has been greatly improved in recent years, with a number of initiatives included to try to ensure that as many venues and events are able to be attended by people of all abilities. Because of Adelaide city centre 's compact size, many of the venues are fairly close to each other. The city's surrounding parks provide several clusters of venues (known as venue hubs), outside of
2196-462: The city, in 508 comedy, theatre, music, dance and visual art shows. The Adelaide Fringe celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. Compared to the previous year ticket sales were 27% higher. For the first time, Fringe sold 100,000 tickets prior to the opening parade. The event received extra State Government funding of A$ 350,000 to support the anniversary event. The grant covered the cost of producing eight inflatable astronauts and erecting them around
2257-414: The city. 300,000 tickets were sold at box offices, more than twice as many as were sold in 2007. In 2011, the Fringe Parade was cancelled due to rain, but 334,000 tickets were sold, equating to over A$ 8 million . 1.45 million attendances were recorded and ticket sales had increased 11% over the previous year. The 2012 festival ran from 24 February to 18 March. Approximately 40,000 spectators attended
2318-610: The duration of the festival. In 2023 Adelaide Fringe became the first festival in Australia to sell 1 million tickets. This has doubled from 500,000 tickets in 2015. The main temporary venue hubs are The Garden of Unearthly Delights , Gluttony and the Wonderland and 500 other temporary and permanent venues hosting Fringe events are scattered across the city, suburbs and region. In a period in Adelaide's calendar referred to by locals as " Mad March ", other events running concurrently are
2379-604: The duration of the month-long festival. The festival includes contemporary work in a wide range of art forms including cabaret , comedy, circus and physical theatre , dance, film, theatre, puppetry , music, visual art, magic, digital and interactive and design. In 2019 there were 517 venues, which included "pop-up" venues in parks, warehouses, laneways and disused buildings, as well as established venues such as theatres, hotels, bars, pubs, art galleries and cafes. Buskers regularly perform in Rundle Mall and elsewhere in and around
2440-676: The established and converted venues within the city and suburbs. There are three main venue hubs: Some of the permanent establishments regularly hosting Fringe events have included the Holden Street Theatres (a converted church precinct turned venue in Hindmarsh ), Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute , Bakehouse Theatre (a performing arts space in the CBD), The German Club in Flinders Street , The Rhino Room (a local comedy club),
2501-446: The event grew to three weeks in duration, running from 6–28 March that year and experiencing significant growth in both official and unofficial events and including three major musical performances, four dance performances, an opera, film events and exhibitions. The first printed souvenir programme was published for the 1974 event, with the title as " Adelaide Festival of Arts, March 9 to 30: Fringe programme ". However there were still
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2562-442: The film industry, from entry-level to early career, providing access to equipment, advice and a subsidy programme. It offers production support, professional development and industry and community partnerships. The offices are located in the Lion Arts Centre on the corner of Morphett Street and North Terrace, Adelaide. The Mercury Cinema building includes its main 186-seat cinema as well as the 36-seat Iris Cinema, situated adjacent to
2623-519: The globe participate in the Fringe alongside home-grown talent, in all art forms. Adelaide Fringe also organises its own public events. The Adelaide Fringe is an open-access event, meaning that there is no curator seeking out the events which form part of the programme. "Mad March" is a term used by locals to describe the period of five big events running concurrently in the local calendar: the Adelaide Festival of Arts (a three-week festival starting
2684-586: The goal of generating profit. An example of this is a sports club , which exists for the enjoyment of its members and thus would function well as an NFPO, with revenue being re-invested into improving the organization. These organizations typically file for tax exemption in the United States under section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code as social clubs. Common ventures for which NFPOs are established include: Charities, as NFPOs, function under
2745-613: The last weekend. It was in 2017 that it became the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere, and the second largest Fringe in the world. Adelaide Fringe 2018 once again broke all records, attracting 2.7 million people in attendance across free and ticketed events, including 100,000 for the Opening Night Street Party (which replaced the opening night Parade) and 505,000 for the Parade of Light digital projections onto
2806-420: The most successful festival yet. It was beginning to put itself on the map internationally. The brochures stated that it was "the biggest community arts festival in Australia" and "ranked second only, behind the internationally renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe". The inaugural Opening Night Hindley Street Party was thrown, and patron Don Dunstan called on the state government to provide more funding. In 1994,
2867-410: The name on the posters changed from Adelaide Festival Fringe to Adelaide Fringe Festival, as a result of changes brought about in 1992-3. It decided to adopt the name Adelaide Fringe and to broaden the role of the organisation. Dubbed "the affordable festival", the 1992 festival was the most successful in its 32 year history, with many of the events taking place in the newly-completed Lion Arts Centre on
2928-486: The number of unofficial local events and exhibitions grew to the point where, according to a thesis by Martin Christmas, "1962 appears to have been the Festival where it was recognised that 'ancillary' (fringe activities), were as important as the core cultural activities", and Max Harris wrote an article entitled Adelaide’s Two Festivals . In 1964, Fringe was host to 52 art exhibitions, collections and performances. Like
2989-506: The pandemic. In 2010, eight giant 10–12-metre (33–39 ft)-high inflatable astronauts , created by Mr Inflatables, were placed around Adelaide. The 2014 event's mascot was Stobie the Disco Cuttlefish , a 13-metre (43 ft)-long street performance puppet inspired by the giant cuttlefish of South Australia. Stobie the Disco Cuttlefish flashed multi-coloured lights, waved its tentacles and played pre-recorded disco music while
3050-689: The parade ran down the centre of the city along King William Street , and the celebrations before, during and afterwards were not just in the East End of the city centre, but in Fringe venues everywhere. There were also a number of large free outdoor events during the festival. In 2013, after a boost in government funding, Fringe was extended to run for a 4-week period, commencing Friday 15 February. There were over 4,000 artists registered, appearing in 930 events and 6139 performances, and 407,153 tickets were sold. The dollar value of ticket sales equated to A$ 11.6 million . The event generated A$ 64.6 million , which
3111-439: The premise that any revenue generated should be used to further their charitable missions rather than distribute profits among members. This revenue might come from donations, fundraising, or other activities undertaken to support their charitable cause. Adelaide Fringe Adelaide Fringe , formerly Adelaide Fringe Festival , is Australia’s biggest arts festival and is the world's second-largest annual arts festival (after
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#17328916917213172-503: The previous year. Ticket sales for the 2016 Adelaide Fringe Festival rose 12% on the previous year, with more than 600,000 tickets sold. More than 1,100 performances were staged across 430 venues. British comedian Alexis Dubus vowed not to perform in future Adelaide Fringe Festivals, citing his reason as the festival being driven by larger venues, which attract crowds who buy drinks instead of show tickets, leading to poor ticket sales and cancellations for shows. (However, he returned to
3233-509: The terms are sometimes used interchangeably. An NFPO must be differentiated from a NPO as they are not formed explicitly for the public good as an NPO must be, and NFPOs are considered "recreational organizations", meaning that they do not operate with the goal of generating revenue as opposed to NPOs. An NFPO does not have the same obligation as an NPO to serve the public good, and as such it may be used to apply for tax-exempt status as an organization that serves its members and does not have
3294-416: The time, but the reason was reinforce the notion that Focus was not a cultural cringe . The first independently organised Fringe, known as Focus Festival, came into being and was seen as a huge success. This was the true beginning of today's Adelaide Fringe, as a separate entity and with focused goals, and the first dedicated poster, proclaiming "Focus '76". The 1978 poster said: "Focus: Adelaide's Festival of
3355-605: The western end of North Terrace . The 1994 poster showed "Adelaide Fringe Festival", in contrast to the recent past "Adelaide Festival Fringe". In 1998, the used its own especially developed ticketing system, FringeTix, for the first time. The 2000 Fringe dropped the "Festival" and started calling itself the Adelaide Fringe. That year was dedicated to dedicated to former state premier and fringe patron Don Dunstan , embracing his vision of social justice and cultural diversity that continues to be an inspiration today. In 2006 South Australian Premier Mike Rann announced that
3416-477: Was CEO 2006–2010, while Christie Anthoney filled the post of director from when the Fringe went annual in 2007 to 2010; and Karen Hadfield for the 2004 and 2006 festivals. As of 2019 Adelaide Fringe is the second-largest annual arts festival in the world, after the Edinburgh Fringe, and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere , places it won in 2017, and it continues to grow each year. Artists from across
3477-451: Was a live audio drama of Matthew Reilly 's 1998 book Ice Station . In November 2016, CEO Croall spoke of the need for better marketing to attract more tourists, and ways to help ensure that artists received a decent share of income. The start date of the 2017 festival was postponed by a week to 17 February, with the March long weekend falling on weekend four of the festival, instead of
3538-627: Was an increase of 34% on the previous year. In 2014, the festival ran for 30 days and nights from 14 February until 16 March, and brought together over 4,000 artists from around Australia and the world. Over 900 events were staged in pop-up venues in parks, warehouses, lane-ways and disused buildings as well as established venues such as theatres, hotels, art galleries and cafes. In February 2015, Heather Croall came on board as CEO and Festival Director. More than A$ 13 million worth of tickets were sold, made up of more than 536,000 tickets sold across 376 venues, resulting in an increase of 20% compared to
3599-449: Was held in Adelaide for the first time in 2020. The last weekend of the festival was somewhat impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia , although government rules on social distancing and travel did not start until the following week. Nonetheless it brought in a record $ 96.7 million in estimated gross economic expenditure, with box office revenue also hitting a record $ 21 million, selling 853,419 tickets. Dates were announced for
3660-427: Was praised by artists, including Dubus, who returned with a new show that year. Records were again broken in 2019, with attendance by tourists increased by 72% on the previous year (possibly a consequence of increased interstate marketing ), a total of nearly 3.3 million attendances, and A$ 95 million in estimated expenditure. 7000 artists participated in 1326 events. The reach of Fringe has been pushing further out of
3721-703: Was rebranded Mercury CX and a new website launched. The organisation has struggled to remain solvent, and has relied heavily on public funding by the state government. In 2022 the South Australian Government refused a request for $ 700,000 to $ 1.2 million in annual funding, but months later offered $ 50,000 to help the organisation find a way to keep afloat. A new board started its term on 1 December, led by former South Australian Film Corporation chair Peter Hanlon and producer Kirsty Stark , and including producers Lisa Scott of Highview Productions and Rebecca Summerton of Closer Productions . Mercury CX
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