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Resources

Venue registration is completely FREE! And more importantly, anyone can be involved. This resource offers a broad overview, providing helpful tips and crucial information to navigate your festival journey successfully. Get ready to transform your space into a vibrant hub of creativity and performance!

Contents

Read Venue Magazine

Have a read through or download your copy of the 2025 Venue Magazine for all the tips, tricks, and everything you need to know about becoming a Fringe Venue!

Introduction to Venues

Are you considering hosting an event during the Adelaide Fringe? It's an incredibly exciting prospect! The Fringe embraces a wonderfully diverse range of venues, from established institutions to delightfully unconventional spaces. The best part? Venue registration is completely free, and absolutely anyone can participate!

Whether you manage a traditional theatre, a lively pub, or a bustling club, your space is welcome. But don't fret if your venue is a little more out-of-the-box! We've seen incredible shows in underground laundromats, cosy caravans, and even vast regional patches of land. The beauty of Fringe lies in its adaptability; you can truly create festival magic, no matter the shape or form your venue embodies.

Getting Started: Why Fringe?

Adelaide Fringe is the Southern Hemisphere's largest open-access arts festival, established over 60 years ago. For 31 magical days and nights, the festival enlivens the CBD, surrounding suburbs, and even parts of regional South Australia. Since it's an open-access festival, the programme isn't curated or selected by the organisers; instead, anyone can participate and create Fringe magic.

Benefits of Becoming a Fringe Venue

Hosting a Fringe show brings numerous advantages to your space, including:

  • Attracting new audiences to your venue.
  • Boosting your venue's entertainment and engagement programme.
  • Exploring new ways to host diverse shows, from theatre and music to comedy and food & drink experiences.
  • Challenging you to be different and use the Fringe platform to share something novel.

What makes a good Fringe Venue

The best Adelaide Fringe venues:

  • Take care of your artists and staff.
  • Provide the services you have agreed upon with artists.
  • Be ready to run the show and welcome audiences.
  • Market your Fringe activities to your existing audience or community.

How to Register

Becoming an official Fringe venue is straightforward. The first step involves registering your venue on the Artist & Venues Registration (AVR) system. AVR is not just for registration; it also offers a wealth of helpful information, covering marketing, publicity, ticketing, and reports. You'll also find essential resources like the Advertising Kit and Logo & Branding Kit on AVR.

If You've Participated Before

If your venue has been registered with Adelaide Fringe since 2017, you can simply reactivate your existing AVR account using your venue's login. There's no need to create a new profile or venue; you can just update your venue details.

Your Guide to AVR

Part One: Sign In and Build Your Profile

  1. Sign In to AVR: Create an AVR login. It's recommended to use a desktop computer for this process.
  2. Build Your Venue Profile: On the 'My Festival' page, select 'New Venue' to create a new profile or choose an existing one to update. Follow the prompts carefully. The accuracy of the information you provide is crucial for supporting artists and audiences to engage effectively with your venue.

For your Venue Profile, you will need to provide details such as:

  • Number of staff and key contact information.
  • A brief venue description and opening hours.
  • Website and social media links (if applicable).
  • At least one venue image (JPEG/PNG 1152px x 576px).
  • Accessibility information and images.
  • Space details (you can activate multiple performance spaces).
  • Bank and tax details.

Part Two: Connect with Shows and Finalise Registration

  1. Find a Show or Register Your Own:
    • Presenting Your Own Show? Register your show directly from your 'My Festival' page. Check out our Key Dates for information about when Show Registrations open.
    • Searching for a Show? The show finder tool also opens with Show Registrations. You can search for registered shows that require venues.
  2. Sign a Mutual Agreement: All contractual details are arranged between venues and artists. Ensure you have a signed contract before linking your venue to a show on AVR. For guidance on what to include in a Venue Hire Agreement or for example contracts, visit the AVR Resources.
  3. Approve Settlement Details: Once a show links to your venue, you'll need to approve the box office split/settlement arrangement.
  4. Approve Session Details: You will then be notified if session approval is required. You'll need to review and approve session times and dates, as well as ticket types and offers. Your approval in AVR is essential for the show to complete its registration and secure your participation in the festival.
  5. You are now an Official Adelaide Fringe Venue! You can update your Venue Profile, check your show calendar, and approve new sessions at any time. Remember, shows must pay a registration fee, but venue registration is free.

How Should I Charge for My Venue?

There are no strict rules on how much you should charge or the structure of your hire agreement, but it's important to establish this before registering your venue and engaging with artists. Consider the following models:

  • Free Hire: You take all bar sales.
  • Set Hire Fee: Applied daily fees (anyone can hire).
  • Hire Fee + Box Office Split: A small fee plus a split of box office sales.
  • Box Office Split: No upfront fee, just a split of box office sales.
  • Curated: A programme created specifically by the venue.
  • Buy In: The venue purchases the show to perform in its space.

Activating Your Venue

Venue for Hire: Finding Artists & Shows

Proactively connecting with artists helps you host shows that resonate with your audience and expand your reach. To find artists and shows:

  • Opt into the Venue Finder database to help artists locate your space.
  • Explore the Event Finder database.
  • RSVP to the Meet the Venues networking event and prepare your pitch.
  • Review past Adelaide Fringe programmes.
  • Join the Official Adelaide Fringe Participants Facebook Group and like the FringeWORKS page.

Communication is Key

While a venue hire agreement sets expectations, a successful Fringe season relies on ongoing communication and collaboration between artists and venues. Regular dialogue is vital for promoting shows together, creating ticket bundles, or organising exclusive offers, which ultimately boosts your venue's success.

Venue-Managed Shows: Maximise Your Venue's Potential

Don't let any area go unused! Host an exhibition in your foyer or live music in your garden to transform your entire venue into a vibrant hub. Offer a variety of shows, back-to-back performances, or ticket bundles to maximise audience engagement.

Consider your current customer base when programming. Tailor your offerings to what your customers already love about your venue rather than solely trying to attract a new audience.

Regional Venue Considerations

If you're a regional venue, consider how you can support touring artists. Can you provide amenities to help offset touring costs or offer venue hire discounts for interstate or international shows? Collaborate with your local councils to access additional support and resources for your artists.

Enrich your programming by collaborating with local talent. Hosting shows or co-producing new shows with local artists can effectively leverage existing community networks and audiences.

Strategies for Success

Grants to Support Your Venue

Activating your venue can be challenging on a budget, and grants can provide vital financial and in-kind support for your season. The Fringe Fund supports innovative ideas, amplifies diverse voices, and enriches the festival landscape. Funding rounds are available for venue operators, artists, collectives, and producers.

The Fringe Fund can cover:

  • Operational Costs: Show development, venue operations, programming costs, wages, mentorship, marketing, and the hire and purchase of essential equipment.
  • Audience & Artist Access: Removing participation barriers for artists and audiences, and promoting cultural equity. This includes Auslan interpretation, audio description, interpretive services, and physical accommodations like access ramps and chair lifts.

More information about Fringe Fund.

Additionally, connect with your local council, as they might provide financial support or resources for you and your artists.

Honey Pot

Programme your venue year-round through Honey Pot, a marketplace for shows where you can network with tour-ready local and international artists.

Accessibility & Your Venue

Greater accessibility significantly increases engagement. The more accessible your venue, the more your audience will expand.

  • Grow Your Audience Year-Round: Search filters on the Fringe website and the Access Guide make it easier for people to find suitable venues. Investing in accessibility features opens your doors to a broader audience.
  • Expand Your Line-up: Enhancing venue accessibility benefits not only your audience but also artists and crew members, making your venue more appealing for a diverse range of shows.

What Does Accessibility Look Like?

  • Physical Accessibility: Does your venue have ramps, elevators, wide doorways, and accessible restrooms to accommodate individuals with mobility impairments or those using wheelchairs?
  • Sensory Accessibility: Do you provide accommodations for individuals with visual or hearing impairments, such as audio descriptions, Auslan interpretation, hearing loops, or captioning for your shows?
  • Inclusive Services: Do you offer staff training to assist individuals with diverse needs and ensure that your services, programmes, and events are inclusive and welcoming to everyone?

More information can be found in the Venue Accessibility Resource Pack.

Network with Artists

  • Meet the Venues: If you have a venue but no show, this in-person networking session allows venues two minutes to pitch to artists and start conversations for the following season.
  • Event Finder: Engage with artists and shows that suit your venue. The Show Finder database, where you can search for registered shows that need venues to begin your Adelaide Fringe journey.

Summary

  • Becoming an Adelaide Fringe venue is free and open to all types of spaces.
  • The Artist & Venues Registration (AVR) system is your essential tool for registration and accessing resources.
  • The Venue Magazine provides comprehensive guidance, tips, and crucial dates.
  • Consider applying for Adelaide Fringe Fund Grants to support operational costs and accessibility improvements.
  • Actively network with artists and utilise marketing strategies to maximise your venue's potential and reach new audiences.

Additional Resources