Sydney Fringe Festival director speaks of challenges during soaring costs, inflation pressures

The Sydney Fringe Festival is the latest NSW event facing the sting of rising inflation, sparking doubts around the long-term viability of the annual event.

The Sydney Fringe Festival is the latest NSW event facing the sting of rising inflation, sparking doubts around the long-term viability of the annual event.

Kerri Glasscock, chief executive and director of the festival, has spoken of the increasing challenges in staging the event which showcases artists spanning theatre, music, comedy, visual art, film, musical theatre, dance and more.

The festival is the largest independent event of its type in NSW – drawing a crowd of 98,435 people last year – however despite its popularity is not immune from the cost of living and inflation pressures impacting many other festivals in NSW.

Ms Glasscock said the challenges of running this year’s event were the greatest in her 11 year tenure in the role.

“It’s definitely been the hardest business environment and the sector is feeling it tremendously,” she said.

The annual event showcases artists from across NSW.

“We’ve had line items in our budget increase eight-fold year on year so the business environment is incredibly pressurised.

“Our electricity costs alone went from $5500 to $40,000 – when dealing with an eightfold increase it’s really difficult.”

Concerns over the rising costs of hosting the event come as other Sydney festivals face similar budget pressures including Mardi Gras and Ramadan Nights.

Sydney Fringe Festival director Kerri Glasscock.

Ms Glasscock said the pressures facing the creative sector was highlighted by four companies involved in this year’s Fringe Festival falling into liquidation including performance venues, a catering company and a tent provider.

She said key challenges included a shortfall of affordable and appropriate performance space in the City of Sydney and labour shortages including specialised roles such as tech operators, crew and skilled producers.

“Organisations like Fringe are already under-resourced and have to take on immense amounts of risks to support the artists we support as well,” she said.

“We’ve built up hard-won reserves but another year or two of that would be difficult and we’re certainly hearing that right across the sector.”

The Sydney Fringe’s economic impact topped $34.4m last year with $2.1m paid directly to artists, of which more than 80 per cent are artists based in NSW.