When you register your show for the Adelaide Fringe, you're agreeing to the Adelaide Fringe 2027 Artist Agreement. It sets out how your show's details are used, how tickets are sold, how you get paid, and what's expected of you as a presenter. This guide breaks down the key parts, so you know what you're signing up to.

Contents

What This Agreement Covers

The Artist Agreement is a contract between you, the artist or presenter, and Adelaide Fringe Incorporated. It sets the terms for your participation as an independent artist in the festival, covering how your show details are used, how tickets are sold, and how you get paid.

Read the Agreement

Download the 2027 agreement as a PDF.

What Happens to Your Content and IP?

When you provide information and materials about your show for registration, like descriptions, images, or videos, that's referred to as Content. The agreement sets out how Adelaide Fringe can use this content to promote your show across the Official Fringe Guide, the website, and other marketing materials.

You, as the presenter, retain ownership of your intellectual property related to your show. Your script, music, choreography, and other creative elements stay yours. Adelaide Fringe gets a license to use these materials to promote and run the festival, not ownership of them. Make sure your original work is protected.

If you're using third-party copyrighted material in your show, it's your responsibility to secure the necessary permissions and licenses. Adelaide Fringe isn't liable for royalties or infringements in this regard.

How Do Ticketing and Settlements Work?

The agreement outlines how tickets are sold through Adelaide Fringe's official ticketing service. You'll find details on:

  • Ticket pricing: how you set your ticket prices, and any standard Fringe ticket types or promotions that might apply.
  • Ticketing fees: Adelaide Fringe retains an Artist Inside Charge to cover operational costs.
  • Settlement process: how and when ticket sale money is paid out to you.
  • Refunds and exchanges: the conditions under which these are processed, aligning with Live Performance Australia's Ticketing Code of Practice.

Ticketing Details: What You Need to Know

Exclusive Ticketing Through Adelaide Fringe

Adelaide Fringe holds exclusive ticketing rights for all 2027 shows, so tickets must be sold through Adelaide Fringe's official system. If you have an existing contractual obligation to another ticketing provider from before your 2027 registration, you can apply in writing to the Ticketing Manager for a Split Allocation Agreement, which allows a portion of your tickets to be sold via an alternate platform. Tickets must be priced identically across all platforms.

Ticket Sales and Settlement Timeline

General ticket sales open on 4 December 2026 and remain on sale until the start time of each session. You can request an early on-sale date with a minimum 10 business days' notice. Adelaide Fringe remits your earnings within 20 business days of your final session, or 40 days from the final session, whichever comes first. Payment follows your agreed settlement split with your Venue in AVR.

Artist Inside Charge

All tickets sold incur an Artist Inside Charge of 4% of the advertised ticket price, deducted at settlement. If you're part of the Schools Program, the charge drops to 2%.

Transaction Fee

Customers pay a $4.80 Transaction Fee at the point of sale, whether that's the website, call centre, or box office. Display this fee clearly on all promotional materials, for example: "Ticket Price: $20 + $4.80 Transaction Fee".

Complimentary Tickets

Complimentary "Presenter Comp" tickets incur a fee of $0.30 per ticket, deducted at settlement. Comps issued by Adelaide Fringe (media, Honey Pot participants, Fringe members, and so on) incur no fee. Comp tickets must not be sold or resold, and you must not receive any payment or benefit for them.

ManageMyTix

ManageMyTix is your self-service portal for managing tickets and reports. You're responsible for:

  • Downloading the "Seat Listing with Access Requirements" report, especially for non-scanning venues.
  • Managing offers, ticket setup, and door lists.
  • Staying on top of venue capacity if you're also selling tickets at the door.
  • Recording and reporting any door tickets sold outside of Adelaide Fringe's system.

Adelaide Fringe takes no responsibility for errors arising from the misuse or lack of use of ManageMyTix.

Content Standards

When you submit content for your show, like descriptions, images, or videos, Adelaide Fringe reserves the right to edit, amend, or refuse to publish content that:

  • Is inappropriate for a general audience.
  • Insults, humiliates, intimidates, or ridicules based on age, ethnicity, nationality, race, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, or community.
  • Constitutes or encourages criminal conduct.
  • Contains defamatory language.
  • Is detrimental to Adelaide Fringe's reputation.

If your show is flagged for content concerns, Adelaide Fringe will contact you to discuss it. If agreement isn't reached within 2 business days, your show may be removed from sale and the Fringe Guide. You're still welcome to continue your show independently outside of Adelaide Fringe.

Music Licensing

If your show includes copyrighted music, you may need a licence through OneMusic Australia, which covers APRA AMCOS and other performing rights. Make sure you have the appropriate permissions in place.

What Insurance Do You Need?

You'll almost certainly need Public Liability Insurance, which protects you in case of accidental injury to a person or damage to property during your performances or related activities. The agreement specifies the minimum coverage required. Arrange your insurance well in advance of the festival. There are arts-specific insurance providers in Australia who offer competitive rates. Adelaide Fringe isn't liable for claims arising from your show's operations, so get this sorted early.

Beyond insurance, the agreement covers your responsibilities around general safety, risk assessment, and compliance with all relevant laws and regulations during your participation, including fire safety, venue capacity, and working with children checks if applicable.

Safety and Technical Requirements

Working with Children Checks (WWCC)

If your show serves children or young people, you and any assistants must obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) before your show commences. This is a legal requirement under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 (SA). Adelaide Fringe accepts no responsibility for cancellation if you don't have a valid WWCC.

Child Safe Environment Compliance

If your show is wholly or partly for children, you must lodge a Child Safe Environment compliance statement with the South Australian Department of Human Services before your show starts. Adelaide Fringe can request proof of your WWCC and compliance statement at any time.

Rigging and High-Risk Activities

If your show involves rigging or other high-risk activities:

  • Your venue must be assessed by qualified personnel in compliance with SafeWork SA code of practice.
  • Appropriate certification, such as a Licence to Perform High Risk by an intermediate Rigger, must be obtained before your show starts.
  • You and your venue must agree on technical specifications in writing prior to the festival.

Risk Assessments

You must be able to provide Adelaide Fringe with a risk assessment for your show on request, showing you've identified and managed potential hazards.

Smoking on Stage

If your show includes smoking on stage for artistic purposes, you'll need to apply for an exemption under tobacco laws for artistic performances.

The Code of Conduct

The Artist Agreement references a Code of Conduct, which sets clear standards against discrimination, harassment, bullying, and abusive conduct among artists, venues, festival staff, and audiences.

If any issues or disputes arise during your participation, the agreement outlines the channels for communication and resolution. Adelaide Fringe's Artist & Venue team can provide support and guidance if you run into any challenges.

What Marketing Support Do You Get?

Registering your show gives you a listing in the Official Fringe Guide and on the website, plus access to Adelaide Fringe sales data to track your audience. Adelaide Fringe also runs broader marketing campaigns to drive audience attendance to the festival as a whole.

Your own marketing and promotion efforts are still key to your show's results. The agreement sets out how you can use Fringe branding and logos in your own promotional materials.

New in 2027

Adelaide Fringe's Commitment to Artists, Creativity, and AI

Adelaide Fringe is committed to supporting human creativity. The festival doesn't require disclosure of AI use in your creative content, but Adelaide Fringe will not generate or replicate an artist's image, voice, or likeness using AI. The festival expects the same from artists and venues: never generate or replicate someone's image, voice, or likeness with AI without their explicit consent.

As an open-access festival, Adelaide Fringe doesn't restrict which creative tools artists choose to use. Use whatever tools you like to create and promote your work, but respect other artists' rights in this space.

Sustainability and Reconciliation

Adelaide Fringe encourages artists to consider environmentally sustainable practices and the broader social and economic impact of their shows.

By registering as an Adelaide Fringe artist, you also agree to incorporate an Acknowledgement of Country in your show, spoken by a cast or crew member, displayed as written text, or played as a recording before each session. Adelaide Fringe will provide a recording of a Kaurna Acknowledgement and/or general Acknowledgement of Country, available in AVR, that you can use. This is a cultural protocol to recognise First Nations peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land.

Privacy and Data Protection

When you register for Adelaide Fringe, you're sharing personal information that must be handled with care and in compliance with privacy laws.

Your Personal Information

Adelaide Fringe collects and uses your contact details, artist information, and registration data to manage and administer your festival participation, send marketing communications about Adelaide Fringe programs, events, and opportunities, and contact you about memberships, fundraising, ticketing, and promotions.

You can opt out of direct marketing at any time using the unsubscribe facility in any communication, or by contacting Adelaide Fringe directly.

Ticket Holder Information and Your Responsibilities

When you access ticket holder information through ManageMyTix, including door lists and access requirements, you're handling personal data that requires careful protection. You must:

  • Only use this information for delivering your show.
  • Keep it secure and confidential.
  • Share it only with team members who need it to run your show.
  • Never use door lists or access requirements for marketing purposes.
  • Take particular care with access requirements, as they may reveal health information.

If Personal Information Is Lost or Breached

If ticket holder information you're holding is lost, accessed without authorisation, or disclosed by mistake, notify Adelaide Fringe within 24 hours, even if you're not sure how serious it is. This helps Adelaide Fringe meet its legal reporting obligations.

After Your Show Ends

Once your show's season is complete, securely delete or destroy any personal information about ticket holders that you no longer need, except anything you're required to keep by law.

Compliance

You must comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Spam Act 2003 (Cth), and Adelaide Fringe's Privacy Policy, whether or not those obligations apply to you directly. Adelaide Fringe will not provide you with ticket holder email addresses for any reason. This protects customer privacy.

Key Contacts at Adelaide Fringe

Reach out if you're unsure about anything.

  • Artist & Venue Team: for general questions about your registration, venue relations, professional development, and navigating the festival.
  • Ticketing Team: for queries related to your ticket sales, settlements, promo codes, and ticketing reports.

Summary

  • The Artist Agreement sets out your rights and responsibilities as a participating artist.
  • You retain intellectual property of your show, while Fringe uses your content for promotion.
  • Adelaide Fringe runs exclusive ticketing: Artist Inside Charge of 4% (2% for Schools), a $4.80 Transaction Fee, and settlement within 20 business days.
  • Submit content that meets Adelaide Fringe's standards and get OneMusic licensing sorted for copyrighted music.
  • Have adequate Public Liability Insurance, obtain Working with Children Checks if applicable, and be ready to provide risk assessments for high-risk activities.
  • Adhere to the Code of Conduct and respect privacy obligations around ticket holder data.
  • Incorporate an Acknowledgement of Country in your show, and respect Adelaide Fringe's AI and creativity commitments.
  • Use official channels for support and dispute resolution, and keep any personal information you access secure and confidential.

Additional Resources