The Edinburgh Fringe has a well-earned reputation as a proving ground for artists from around the world, including from the US – Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Schwimmer and Robin Williams are just a handful of the US performers who have cut their teeth in Edinburgh.
“The Fringe is such an important market for the development of new plays and musicals. It is such a valued place for anyone wanting to launch an artistic idea.
"For artists it is such an important platform for gaining awareness for your work on a global scale and gaining a fan following. For audiences it has a true ‘saw it there first’ excitement. There is nowhere else like it and the inspiration gleaned from being there is unparalleled.”
– Molly Morris, New York-based producer and co-founder of Ghost Light Global, a travel curator specializing in arts and entertainment travel.
US Keep it Fringe fund
Artists face increasing challenges to showcasing their work in Edinburgh, especially when their costs include overseas travel. That’s why the Fringe Society – the organization that underpins the festival – is spearheading an initiative to provide financial support for US artists wishing to perform.
Led by Fringe Ambassador Brian Cox (Succession), Keep it Fringe US echoes the successful Keep it Fringe fund, which was started by the Fringe Society’s honorary President, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, to help UK artists thrive at the festival.
Brian Cox, Ambassador of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, said: “As a Scottish performer who lives in the US, I’m doubly invested in this project to strengthen the cultural bond between our two countries. There’s already an incredibly strong shared heritage between Edinburgh and the States – one of Edinburgh’s foremost theatres for new writing, the Traverse, was founded by a US airman named Jim Haynes in the 1960s.
"Keep it Fringe US aims to enable and encourage the next generation of emerging US talent at the Fringe, ensuring that a spirit of adventure and collaboration can continue.”
Can you help us launch Keep it Fringe US?
Join the Fringe Society in helping US artists to thrive at the Fringe.
Together, we can support at least 10 shows with bursaries of $2.5k, advice and a support package to aid audience and career development, with specific focus on marketing, screen development and industry networking opportunities.
Can you help to provide this incredible chance for emerging US performers?
Donate to us via the Chapel & York US Foundation, Inc to ensure you can claim tax benefits by giving to a registered 501(c)(3).
- We need to raise $45,000 to launch the program.
- Approximately every $5,000 supports a show.
- Additional funds support more shows.
As a thank you for your support, you will receive*:
- Invites to behind-the-scenes receptions during the Fringe and opportunities to meet the performers.
- Invites to our New York-based events in January and April, including a parade down 6th Avenue.
- Named on the Fringe website, in the official program and in relevant press releases.
- Named at relevant events.
- Introduction to a complimentary concierge service in Edinburgh.
*Acknowledgement options depend on the amount donated.
US Donors' Circle
Join our US community of Fringe-lovers, ensure a vibrant future for the Fringe and support our charitable work to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat. In 2023, we welcomed 366 shows from the US and provided vital support at our artist hub that offered one-on-one support, professional development events and wellbeing services.
Stewardship experience
Our US Donors enjoy a closer relationship with the Fringe Society team, receiving behind the scenes access to special supporter events and opportunities to engage with the wider team.
For Donors looking for benefits such as 2for1 ticket offers, considering adding a Friends membership to your donation from just £49. Please note Friends membership are not tax-exempt.
| Emerging Patron | Front Row Patron | Backstage Patron | Spotlight Patron | Showstopper Patron | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 or $45 monthly |
$1,600 or $140 monthly |
$2,500 or $215 monthly |
$5,000 or $420 monthly |
$10,000 or $630 monthly |
|
| Exclusive year-round bulletins | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Priority booking line | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Acknowledgement on edfringe.com | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Acknowledgement in the printed programme | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Invitation to Fringe Friend receptions in August | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Invites (x2) to the VIP Industry Welcome Address | ✔️ | ✔️ | |||
| Invites (x2) to the programme launch* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Invitation to join us on the Tartan Parade in New York | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Invites to further celebration events throughout the year | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ||
| Behind the scenes access to Fringe Central artist hub | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ||
| Exclusive time with the Friends team | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Exclusive time with Chief Exec | ✔️ | ✔️ | |||
| Recommendations of hotels, restaurants and activities for during your stay | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ||
| Invoicing of tickets post-festival. | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Donate now!
We partner with the Chapel & York US Foundation, Inc to ensure that our American supporters can claim tax benefits by giving to a registered 501(c)(3). The Chapel & York US Foundation, Inc will provide you with a tax receipt for your donation. The Chapel & York Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) with EIN 81-2161937. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
USA Board of Advisors to the Fringe Society
An enormous Fringe Society thank you to our US Advisors: Chris Crouch, Ian Houston, Paul Innella, Molly Morris, Scott Plank and Ellen Tupman.
US activity
In 2024 we returned to the US in January to participate in the International Society for Performing Arts Congress. As part of the programme we held a workshops for prospective Fringe artists on the festival environment and how to make the most of it, alongside a networking event for both artists and industry.
This was followed by a trip to New York in April to participate in Tartan Week (with thanks to the Scottish Business Network Tartan Challenge program for making this possible) to raise awareness of our fundraising campaign to support US artists thrive at the Fringe and build on our connections.
Alongside marching in the Tartan Day Parade down Sixth avenue, we also hosted a reception with Fringe Patron Eddie Izzard and US-based Fringe artists to raise the profile of the US Keep it Fringe initiative (with thanks to Playbill for supporting the event).
The trip was a fantastic success, with many new friendships struck up and promising plans made for the future of the Fringe. We'd like to thank everyone we met for the warm welcome we received.
We look forward to future activity in the US, promoting the relationship between the festival and the USA and to continually building relationships with our US supporters.
If you would like to discuss more about how you can support the Fringe Society, please contact us on support.us@edfringe.com.
Frequently asked questions
Any donations made to the US Keep it Fringe initiative will contribute towards both a financial package and a support package for US-based artists to thrive at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. Donations made to the US Donor Circle will contribute to the Fringe Society’s wider charitable work to make the Fringe more accessible and support artists more widely.
The US Donors Circle is provided in partnership with the Chapel & York US Foundation, Inc to ensure that our American supporters can claim tax benefits by giving to a registered 501(c)(3), with acknowledgement and event invitations to thank you for your donation. The Friends Patron Scheme has benefits such as 2for1 tickets that would be subject to tax and is not provided through the Chapel & York US Foundation for this reason.
If you would like to receive 2for1 tickets and other benefits, please do look at our Fringe Friends and Patron memberships. Please note these memberships are subject to tax.