A grassroots arts festival, preparing to take to a selection of stages in Durham for the fourth time this summer, has received a financial shot-in-the-arm.
The £500 gift from the city’s Freemen body will enable Durham Fringe Festival to extend its marketing and promotional activities to help to spread the word about the event, which this year runs from July 24 to 28.
It is hoped it will help festival planners reach a wider audience for the five-day programme by targeting specific areas of the city with limited home internet access.
Festival director Stephen Cronin said the Freemen’s Charitable Trust award will allow additional printed publicity material to be produced and distributed.
“Statistically the North East has the smallest arts and culture sector in Britain and the festival seeks to provide a platform for artists, performers and creatives to develop and test work, supporting career progression.
“Over the past three years, we have seen an appetite and demand from audiences for a fringe festival in Durham City.
“It is proving to be a powerful tool in bringing people into the city at a time when it needs a boost the most, when the students go home for the summer.
“We’re really grateful to the charitable trust for supporting us to further grow and diversify our audience at this stage of the festival’s development.”
The event, featuring shows from across performing arts genres, including dance, music, theatre, magic, stand-up, cabaret and children’s performances, was launched in 2021 by local residents intent on helping the city to recover from the economic and social effects of the pandemic.
This year the team is encouraging more submissions of dance and movement-based performances.
It has been supported by a team of more than 80 volunteers, across an age span from 11 to 80-plus.
The call for volunteers for this year’s festival will be launched shortly, with organisers inviting would-be willing hands to join the cause by checking the festival website for details.
This year’s shows will be presented over eight performance spaces across seven venues.
New venues include Durham Distillery, in the Prince Bishops Centre, and Dunelm House, the Durham Students’ Union building, in New Elvet, adding to the core cohort of the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms, in North Bailey, Cafedral, in Owengate, Fabios, in nearby Saddler Street, plus the niche Durham City Theatre, in Fowlers Yard.
Audiences can also enjoy performances with the iconic backdrop of Durham Cathedral and castle, in the festival marquee on Palace Green.
Eric Bulmer, chairman of the freemen’s charitable trustees said: “We are delighted to support the Durham Fringe Festival, particularly in widening its reach to target those in our community who face challenges during these difficult economic and social times.
See more Durham City stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here
Headline acts announced for Durham Brass Festival 2024
Pictures from Durham Miners' Gala 2023 in Durham City
Pictures of rowing and on River Wear for 190th Durham Regatta
Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device by subscribing to The Northern Echo, by clicking here.
“We wish them every success with their event in July.”
Tickets for the festival are due to go on sale in early May, by which time the full schedule should be in place.
Further details of the programme and volunteering opportunities are available via info@durhamfringe.co.uk, the festival website.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here