Fringe Mount Gambier festival cancelled in 2025 because of funding uncertainty
Mount Gambier Council has rejected any speculated links between its divisive $136k public artwork and funding hurdles related to the local Fringe festival.
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The Fringe Mount Gambier festival has been cancelled in 2025 because of a sponsorship hiccup with the council, leaving some locals questioning the latter’s spending priorities.
The theatre, art and music festival made the announcement over Facebook, prompting dozens of comments expressing sadness, and many criticising a recently approved $136k public artwork that has been likened to a “blue blob”.
A spokesperson for the festival said the “reluctant decision was made due to uncertainty and prolonged processes surrounding our major sponsorship request to City (of) Mount Gambier”.
“It is crucial that major funding be confirmed with time to plan and deliver the festival to the high standard we all expect and enjoy,” they said.
“As a group of community volunteers we work passionately to deliver Fringe Mount Gambier each year and despite this setback, we will continue to support artists, venues and events in the region and provide audiences with exciting art experiences.”
However, they said the council approved funding for the Fringe Outreach program and anticipated the full festival would return in 2026.
Mount Gambier Council chief executive Sarah Philpott said the festival’s application was first considered in September, but councillors requested more information from organisers for a long-term view of the Festival, which was provided.
A workshop was organised for December to develop a longer-term vision for the festival, but organisers determined that the delayed funding provided too much uncertainty.
“It has a long history and council has been involved in it for a number of years … in previous years we’ve provided $35k and in-kind support,” she said.
“It’s disappointing as it is such a well-loved event, and there’s not just one factor in this, but we’re focused on working with the hardworking volunteer Fringe team to secure a future event for 2026 and following years.”
While the festival has no relation to the contentious ‘Cast In Blue’ sculpture, approved in October and promoted as a link to the area’s archaeological history, many Facebook commenters drew a connection.
“Council has ‘art’ money to spend, but choose to spend it on the blue blob rather than on live art that brings money to the town,” one person wrote.
Ms Philpott said they were two different issues.
“Council has made a decision to fund the public artwork … but there is no suggestion that doing one would necessarily have precluded the other,” she said.
“It was a question of timing and not of substance.”
She also said the council committed $460k to grants and sponsorships this financial year.
The festival began in 2017 and has attracted thousands of visitors in previous years.
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Originally published as Fringe Mount Gambier festival cancelled in 2025 because of funding uncertainty
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