2024 Dunedin Fringe Festival sees rise in audience numbers and revenue for artists

The 11-day Dunedin Fringe Festival’s multidisciplinary celebration of the arts - the largest art festival in the South Island - saw a 10% rise in audience numbers on the previous year at 15,230 and ticket sales generated $141,715 in income for artists, a 41% increase from the previous year.

Held from 14th to 24th March, the Festival’s 24th edition featured 79 events, with over half the work newly created for the festival - while half the performers were making their debut performance in the Fringe.

This inclusive approach offered seasoned artists the opportunity to test new ideas while providing a supportive environment for emerging talent to explore and establish their artistic identities.

As reported by Creative New Zealand, Ruth Harvey, Co-Director and Development and Strategic Relationships Manager for the Festival, advised “(the) Festival (was) a testament to the incredible creativity and talent of our arts community.

“We’re thrilled to see such strong audience engagement and support for our artists, and the economic and cultural impact speaks to the importance of providing accessible platforms for practitioners and audiences.”

Ticket accessibility remained a priority, with 94% priced at $25 or less as well as 16 free events, ensuring that art remained within reach of the broader community.

The economic impact of the event was significant, generating at least $1.2 million for the local economy.

Noting that, for every dollar invested, the Festival returned five dollars, Harvey added “with the help of sponsors, stakeholders, volunteers, and artists, we’ve remained steadfast in our commitment to providing a space where art, culture, and community can come together.”

The 2024 Festival also introduced new initiatives, including the inaugural Māori Artist Grants, which supported four Māori-led projects. As a result, artists treated audiences to kapa haka, reo, waiata, and more.

The Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy Fringe Festival Initiative also supported four Pasifika artists, enabling them to showcase their work to broader audiences and network with fellow creatives.

Additionally, the festival championed youth engagement through the Stand Up Stand Out Comedy School for Teens. Eight participants received mentoring from national and international comedians, spotlighting the voices of the next generation.

The Dunedin Fringe Festival is a recipient of the Festival Fund, a one-off grant from Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture and Heritage's Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme, supporting the arts in response to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 in 2023.

This year’s 25th edition of the Festival will run from 13th to 25th March this year.

Image: Dunedin Pride’s SoliloQeens (+ Kings) event in Te Whare o Rukutia. Credit: Armstrong Photography/Creative New Zealand.