Artist Opportunities

See all current Fringe Fund opportunities below. Sign up to our Fringemakers enews, follow us on social media and check back here to know when new opportunities become active.

ETU Commission: $20,000

We’re offering a new $20,000 commission for a show that will pack out our largest and highest production value Festival Hub venue; the ETU Ballroom. Are you an ambitious producer with a hot new show in the works that you think could do three weeks in a 150-200 seat venue? This commission is for you! We have Fringe Fund commissions for artists at every stage of their career but this one is specifically for mid-career or established artists based in Victoria. The kind of work that can be competitive in the national performing arts market.

This is a unique opportunity to develop and present a fully realised show during this year’s festival (30 September until 19 October 2025). The work will be produced by the successful artist and will form an important part of the Melbourne Fringe Open Access Program at the Festival Hub.

The successful artist will receive:

• $20,000 in commissioning funds to produce and present your new idea
• Guaranteed programming for 15 nights in the ETU Ballroom at the Festival Hub (1st – 19th October, 5 nights per week)
• Support from Melbourne Fringe staff to consult and guide your team – this includes staff who can provide expert advice relating to production management, marketing, administration, and accessibility.

Please read more detailed information in the Info Pack before applying:

ETU Commission Info Pack PDF

ETU Commission Info Pack Word Document

Application link: https://airtable.com/app4kI2dwKr2Wg8zg/pagVS0ka1uhbl3Pxb/form

To discuss your application, please email Olly Lawrence – olly@melbournefringe.com.au or phone our office on (03) 9660 9600 and ask to speak to Olly.

If the Airtable form is not accessible for you, or if there is another way you would prefer to submit an application, please get in touch to let us know. You can call our office or email Milly Cooper at milly@melbournefringe.com.au. Please let us know how you would prefer to submit your answers to the questions. We are open to your ideas around process. However, we cannot change the timeframes unfortunately – you’ll still need to get your proposal in by 30th March, 2025.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 30 March 2025.

Fringe Programmed Venue Commissions: $2,500

This year Melbourne Fringe is offering a select number of $2,500 commissions for artists who are First Nations, d/Deaf, Disabled, People of Colour, and/or transgender to create new works for our Fringe Programmed Venues (Festival Hub at Trades Hall, or Meat Market). This opportunity is open to any artist or collective based in Victoria, working in any artform. It must be a new work and must be premiered during the 2025 Festival.  This application process aims to be easy and artist-friendly with minimal requirements – we just want to get excited about your idea and hear about your plans to make it happen.

The successful artist will receive:

• $2,500 in commissioning funds
• Guaranteed programming in either Festival Hub, or Meat Market (subject to our usual programming process)

Please read more detailed information in the Info Pack before applying:

Fringe Programmed Venue Commissions Info Pack PDF

Fringe Programmed Venue Commissions Info Pack Word Document

Application Link: https://airtable.com/app4kI2dwKr2Wg8zg/pag5GJrfqTtibt2iR/form

To discuss your application, please email Olly Lawrence – olly@melbournefringe.com.au or phone our office on (03) 9660 9600 and ask to speak to Olly.

If the Airtable form is not accessible for you, or if there is another way you would prefer to submit an application, please get in touch to let us know. You can call our office or email Milly Cooper at milly@melbournefringe.com.au. Please let us know how you would prefer to submit your answers to the questions. We are open to your ideas around process. However, we cannot change the timeframes unfortunately – you’ll still need to get your proposal in by 30th March, 2025.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 30 March 2025. 

Cash to Create Commissions: $10,000-$20,000

Melbourne Fringe is thrilled to offer $10,000 to $20,000 commissions for artists to premiere new works in this year’s Festival. This opportunity is open to any artist or collective based in Victoria, working in any artform. We are especially keen to hear from creative leads who are First Nations, Deaf, Disabled, People of Colour and/or transgender. The base commission is $10,000, with the potential for an additional $2,500 – $10,000 for projects that are highly ambitious and require further investment to bring to life.

The successful artist will receive:

• 10,000 to $20,000 cash from the Fringe Fund to produce and present
  your new idea

Please read more detailed information in the Info Pack before applying:

Cash to Create Commissions Info Pack PDF

Cash to Create Commissions Info Pack Word Doc

Application link: https://airtable.com/app4kI2dwKr2Wg8zg/pagOEY2ikSkuvfves/form

To discuss your application, please email Jason Marsiglia – artists@melbournefringe.com.au or phone our office on (03) 9660 9600 and ask to speak to Jason.

If the Airtable form is not accessible for you, or if there is another way you would prefer to submit an application, please get in touch to let us know. You can call our office or email Milly Cooper at milly@melbournefringe.com.au. Please let us know how you would prefer to submit your answers to the questions. We are open to your ideas around process. However, we cannot change the timeframes unfortunately – you’ll still need to get your proposal in by 30th March, 2025.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 30 March 2025.

How it Works

Cash to Create

Cash to Create opportunities all have one thing in common: they financially support artists so artists can get creating.

Throughout the year applications will be opened for commissioning opportunities including our Club Fringe Commissions, Fringe of the Hub Commissions, ShowSupport and Melbourne Civic Commission. Check back regularly to see how the Fringe Fund can support you to make great art.

Cash for Equity

Cash for Equity is our way of levelling the playing field and making sure that anyone with an amazing idea can have their voice heard at Melbourne Fringe.

Melbourne Fringe acknowledges that people facing financial hardship or structural disadvantage are met with barriers that prevent engagement with the arts and the amplification of their artistic voice. This includes First Nations peoples, Deaf and Disabled people and people who identify as people of colour or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse.

Cash for Equity aims to remove barriers to access. We provide concessions on registration fees, support for audience accessibility services, and bespoke support through Microgrants of $100-$500 that are allocated to alleviate pressures on artists from our communities of focus.

Supporting Artists

Joining us as a Fringe Fund donor will make an incredible impact on the lives and work of independent artists. You’ll be backing big bold ideas, supporting bright emerging talents and helping elevate vital voices as they make exciting and meaningful contributions to the cultural life of our city.

You can add your name to the family of supporters already generously donating directly to the Fringe Fund here – or if you’ve got your own big, bold idea about how to support the Fund, reach out! We’d love to chat.