Our Arts Industry Collaborations

The ActNow MakeSpace residencies offer artists creative freedom to develop a new or existing performance work, while building their broader range of professional skills and knowledge. This residency and guided mentorship program provides vital financial and professional development support to progress a new work towards a presentation as part of Adelaide Fringe.

ActNow Theatre is a South Australian theatre company that works to support the production of socailly conscious performance projects. ActNow works with professional artists to engage diverse communities in conversations around challenging contemporary issues. Their projects that have been critically acclaimed, commended in South Australian Parliament, and highlight praised by audiences, participants and community organisations. ActNow Theatre is committed to building dedicated spaces for First Nations artists, people of colour and queer communities to develop, collaborate, and create. The MakeSpace Residencies are designed to support talented emerging artists who represent the diverse face of South Australia's arts scene.

2022 - 2023 Nicky Tsz Tung Li
2023 - 2024 Juanita Navas-Nguyen

The fab workshop (formerly George Street Studios) Adelaide Fringe Residency has provided studio access and mentorship opportunities to eleven artists since the inaugural residency in 2020. For over 25 years, George Street Studios acted as a key creative hub for Adelaide’s industry-leading makers, artists, and designers. Established in 1997, they have provided studios to over 50 artists and craftspeople over the last 25 years. Their long-running studio tenancy program has developed a diverse community of multidisciplinary craftspeople, who share their knowledge and experience in a way that makes this organisation truly unique. 

fab workshop endeavour to foster an environment where artists are empowered to bring concepts to fruition and develop skills that are relevant to their practice. The Adelaide Fringe Residency recipients receive valuable technical advice and guidance on the safe and effective use of the extensive workshop facilities. 

2023 - 2024        Alice Hu and Brianna Speight

2022 - 2023        Anika Gardener and Oakey

2021 - 2022        Ellis Moseley and Lauren Murphy

2020 - 2021        Steven Bellosquardo and Frances Rogers

2020 - 2021        Danny Jarratt and Izabella Shaw

2019 - 2020        Eleanor Amor and Nat Penney

2019 - 2020        Kate Bohunnis and Sam Gold

The Adelaide Fringe Centre Stage Residency forms a key part of The Mill’s broader Breakout Residency series, which supports multi-disciplinary experimentation and creativity through supported residency opportunities. The Mill is one of South Australia’s leading multidisciplinary arts organisations, they work to achieve their vision by fostering connections between creatives and audiences through a range of programming and professional development opportunities. The Mill works to enable creative works of social, cultural, and economic value, for the benefit of the wider community.

The Centre Stage Residency began in 2020, delivering a four-week incubator program for South Australian artists each year. Artists are supported to progress a creative performance work to the next level, culminating in a Fringe season at The Mill in their Breakout performance space. 

2020 - 2021 Britt Plummer (FRANK Theatre)

2021 - 2022 Lucy Haas-Hennessy (Paper Mouth Theatre)

2021 - 2022 Caitlin Ellen Moore

2022 - 2023 Emma Beech

2023 - 2024 Alix Kuijpers

Established in 1985, Writers SA was Australia's first writers’ centre. They continue to act as a valuable resource for writers of all ages and experiences, assisting both new and established writers on every aspect of their writing craft and publishing. Writers SA showcase and support a diverse and geographically dispersed writing community, with members across South Australia and beyond. 

‘Counter Urban Questions: From the Heart’ was the second collaborative project undertaken between Adelaide Fringe and Writers SA. Seven regional South Australian writers were commissioned to create a new piece of writing, poetry or song. These works aimed to address what it truly means to live and create in the regions. This project was coordinated and creatively led by Mount Gambier based writer and arts worker Alysha Hermann. Following the development process, the selected group of writers then delivered an evening of poetry, performance and music at The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre, Mount Gambier. 

2023 - 2024 Project Coordinator: Alysha Herrmann

Commissioned Writers: Tabitha Lean, Josh King, Sarah Brokensha, Zawa Rashidi, Tessa Deak and Cameron Horsburgh 

2022 - 2023 Project Coordinator: Alysha Herrmann

Commissioned Writers: Timu King, Belili Valkyrie, Britnie Hocking, Poppy Moyle-Read, Josh King, Emma Richardson, Sage Wilde, Sarah Hopgood and Anika Parenta

2021 - 2022 Project Coordinator: Alysha Herrmann

Commissioned Writers: Caroline Reid, Emelia Haskey, Gloria Demillo and Rory Green

Adelaide Festival Centre is South Australia’s principal performing arts venue and presenter of theatre, dance, music and exhibitions. The Adelaide Festival Centre Mentorship Residency provided a creative development opportunity for a South Australian Emerging Producer, with priority given to an artist representing diverse and inclusive arts practice.

In 2023, the Adelaide Festival Centre offered an opportunity for an Emerging South Australian Artist to receive mentorship support, complimentary venue hire and production costs for an event to be held in the Space Theatre during the 2023 Fringe.

Recipient Diana Divine is an arts professional with physical disability working on Kaurna Land. Lovingly referred to as Uncle Di by students and mentees, Diana has prioritised community building projects that create professional opportunities for up and coming performers, while presenting polished and carefully formed productions. Diana produces the award-winning 'Singin' in the Pain', a disability and chronic illness themed cabaret tackling disability theory, building community, and sometimes just providing catharsis for audiences and cast. 'Singin' in the Pain' is a soapbox-style show, with a cast of burlesque and cabaret stars from across Australia who each have something to say.

2022 - 2023 Diana Divine/Singin' in the Pain 

Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) has been creating exceptional contemporary dance and touring it to wide acclaim nationally and internationally since its inception. ADT is Australia’s pre-eminent contemporary dance company and the longest running in the country. For over 50 years they have pioneered new work that has contributed to defining dance in the Adelaide region. 

ADT is at the forefront of Australian contemporary dance, committed to creating dance works of the highest standard that are intellectually and artistically compelling. The program support offered through this Arts Industry Collaboration included the registration of the Odeon Theatre as an Adelaide Fringe registered venue, with the venue acting as a hub for dance events throughout the festival, and funding to cover production costs and design associated with their 2023 Adelaide Fringe program.

Carclew is South Australia’s largest multi-art form and cultural organisation dedicated to artistic outcomes by and for children, for young people, and for emerging creatives establishing their careers. Since 1972, Carclew has been delivering an ever-evolving range of programs and experiences that transform young lives through creativity. We work with arts and non-arts partners and prioritise youth led outcomes that reimagine a courageous future.

Sharehouse and the Emerging Creative Producers program form part of Carclew’s suite of early career programs. The Emerging Creative Producers program included places for three young and diverse early career producers. Outcomes included a series of digital and live youth-led events that provided employment, professional development, and connection for young creatives. The Emerging Creative Producers Program is an ambitious re-imagining of Carclew House, and their digital realm, as a cultural hub- owned and activated by young creatives supported by experienced mentors. Carclew House was registered as an Adelaide Fringe Venue in 2023, with a program of innovative and exciting youth-led events throughout the festival.

The Emerging Creative Producers Program provides mentorship, both in-house and through invited guest mentors, and opportunities for professional development in the areas of producing, production, staffing and contracting artists, marketing, artist liaison and scheduling.

2022 - 2023 Emerging Creative Producers: Jemah Finn, Zoe Gay, Jacqueline Tedmanson and Caitlin Ellen Moore

Lewis Major Projects was incorporated as an independent, project-based company in 2015 as a vehicle for Lewis Major’s creative work and to initiate cultural exchange and international partnerships. Lewis Major Projects exists to deliver exceptional creative experiences for audiences. Unabashedly audience-driven, the ethos that drives their work is local focus, global outlook. Lewis Major brought experience touring internationally, across 6 continents, and a collaborative approach, to their diverse program of Adelaide Fringe 2023 registered shows.

Adelaide Fringe 2023 saw Lewis Major Projects program a full season of the dance genre at the Adelaide College of the Arts. This program highlighted participation from both local and international artists, establishing a high-quality dance program within the Adelaide Fringe landscape. The shows associated with Lewis Major Projects contributed significantly to the quantity and quality of dance experienced by Fringe audiences.

Patch Theatre has been making professional theatre for 4–10-year-old children and their families from their home in South Australia since 1972. During this time, they have produced 112 unique works and performed them to over 1.85 million children around the world. Their programs have given over 40,000 children each year the opportunity to engage with inspirational, design-rich theatre experiences. In addition to theatrical works, they have recently begun developing and delivering interactive design-led, immersive installations in non-traditional theatre spaces.

The Patch Theatre Residency provided an opportunity for a cross-disciplinary artist to work with Patch Theatre on multiple projects throughout the year. With the equivalent of 5 weeks’ engagement on a part-time basis. Projects included collaborating with their creative team on the development of new theatre work for schools as part of their Spark series, and contributing to a range of installation works and their 50th birthday celebration.

Successful candidate Elias Ppiros had the opportunity to work across two creative developments throughout their residency, including a new theatre show presented in collaboration with Restless Dance Theatre in August 2022 and in-school theatre experienceSpark: Once Upon a Jar. Spark is a series of interactive, portable arts experiences, designed in collaboration with artists to provide innovative creative learning opportunities in schools.Following the residency, the Spark project developed was registered in the Adelaide Fringe Education Program in 2023.

2022 - 2023 Elias Ppiros

Restless Dance Theatre is Australia’s leading dance theatre company working with artists with and without disability. Their artistic voice is loud, strong and original. Restless invigorates, influences and diversifies dance by creating innovative and highly distinctive works of dance theatre. Restless is a place where diversity is celebrated, with the aim of allowing all artists to thrive creatively. 

The Restless Adelaide Fringe Residency was a creative development opportunity for an emerging dance and physical theatre artist, with priority given to artists living with a disability. This residency offered the selected performing artist 2 weeks’ studio access and mentorship with Restless Dance Theatre to progress towards a presentation as part of the 2023 Adelaide Fringe. Support also included artist honorarium and mentorship support throughout this project. 

2022 - 2023 Kelly Drummond Cawthon, Paul Hedley Roberts and Kym Mackenzie

Vitalstatistix (Vitals) is a vibrant home on the Port River, Yerta Bulti, for transformative contemporary art and progressive community life. Vitals offers year-round public programs of performance, residencies, projects, events, talks, exhibitions, festivals, collaborations and professional development initiatives for artists.

Vitals was founded in 1984 by Margie Fischer, Ollie Black and Roxxy Bent – a radical and ambitious act by three women determined to make a difference to the opportunities for and workplace experiences of women artists in Australia. This radical determination still lies at the heart of Vitals.

The Adhocracy Program is an annual hothouse, supporting the development and critical discussion of experimental, multidisciplinary arts projects in their early stages; including national keynote projects and new opportunities for local artists. This 2023 collaboration with Adelaide Fringe on The Adhocracy Program forged connections between emerging artists and their industry peers, supporting the development of their practice across multiple platforms, while strengthening future representation of experimental and multidisciplinary projects at Adelaide Fringe.

Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS) has been serving South Australian Aboriginal Communities for 40 years. AFSS undertakes the vital role in ensuring that the importance of culture, country and connection for all Aboriginal people is adhered to in relation to child welfare and protection. 

Tipu (the Kaurna work for “spark”) was a pilot project for young people in AFSS Residential Care, to spark creativity through their interests and culture to facilitate healing opportunities. The project provided a platform for young people to gain confidence and develop skills in areas where there is already a spark of passion and joy. This project was led and facilitated by artist and Adelaide Fringe regular, Jo Zealand. This project involved 6 workshops and the production of 3 videos, culminating in a work-in-progress showing during the 2022 Adelaide Fringe. 

2021 - 2022 Jo Zealand

Each year Adelaide Youth Orchestras (AdYO) provides world-class development programs and career pathways for South Australia’s brightest young emerging musicians. Over the past 23 years, AdYO has supported almost 2,000 young emerging musicians in over 4,000 individual opportunities to engage with their orchestras.

AdYO delivered a collection of performances in contemporary venues during the Adelaide Fringe 2022 season, this included their participation in the Adelaide Fringe Schools program. Each of these concerts were further activated through the engagement of visual artists, who introduced live and digital visual effects. 

AdYO also contracted visual artists to activate both live and digital elements in conjunction with each concert that was staged. These 2022 events included a performance by a String Quartet at Carclew, with a visual artist undertaking a live drawing performance in response to the concert, an Alumni/Emerging Artists event at Mercury Cinema, which included a masterclass and a further Alumni/Emerging Artists event at restaurant Stone & Chalk.