Introducing our Deadly Fringe Program Coordinators

This week as always, we respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, work, play and hold our Festival and events. We pay our respects to the people of the Kulin Nations and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present. It’s a great privilege for us to enable artmaking on these lands, which have such a rich history of culture and storytelling.

To celebrate NAIDOC week we are proudly introducing our Deadly Fringe Program Coordinators Kimmie Lovegrove and Digby Mercer. The Deadly Fringe Program Coordinator roles highlight emerging First Nations Producers and Artists every year, and create a pathway for professional growth.

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Kimberly Lovegrove (aka Kimmie) is a proud Ngarrindjeri woman from South Australia, along the lower Murray River and Coorong Lakes. She grew up on Boon Wurrung country for most of her childhood but has has been living on Wurundjeri country for the past 8 years, so Victoria is her second home.

In 2014 Kimmie began her journey into stand-up comedy and has so far produced three shows, and recently went on her first tour with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow. Kimmie also has a Bachelor in Communication (Public Relations) from RMIT and a Graduate Certificate in Arts from University of Melbourne.

Kimmie is passionate about making space for First Nations artists to tell their stories the way they want to.

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Digby Mercer is a proud Gadigal Man of the Eora Nation. Digby is relatively new to Melbourne and hasn’t been to an IRL Melbourne Fringe before, so we’re excited for him to see what it’s all about this year! Digby adores Design and Visual Arts with a particular focus on Fashion and Contemporary Artmaking Practices, and is currently studying Fashion at RMIT.

Previous to Fringe, Digby worked with the mob at Clothing the Gaps on their Melbourne Fashion Festival showcase earlier this year.

Outside of Fringe, Digby’s main passions are putting together a simply good-looking outfit, dating pages in his diary and continuing the tradition of his elders in creating access to the arts.

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There are heaps of great NAIDOC events happening around the country this week, explore the full program here.

Deadly Fringe is supported by Craig Semple.