Donate to Melbourne Fringe

Be a modern-day Medici (without all the treachery and poisoning)
The Medici family bankrolled the Renaissance and some of history’s greatest masterpieces. They knew that bold art needs brave backers. Behind every great artist — from marble sculptors to experimental theatre-makers — is someone who believed in them first. Michelangelo didn’t just pick up a chisel and wing it. He had a patron. So did da Vinci. Now it’s Fringe artists’ turn… and that patron could be you.

Welcome to our Renaissance. Just like the great Florentine studios, we’re building it from scratch, with power tools, gaffer tape and a whole lot of love. Each year, we transform Trades Hall into the beating heart of the Festival, 14 custom-built venues, over 120 events and more than 650 artists. It’s a glorious collision of imagination and infrastructure, but it’s not cheap. And in a city where affordable creative space is vanishing faster than the Renaissance turned Baroque, we need your help to keep the doors open and the lights on.

By donating to Melbourne Fringe this EOFY, you become one of Fringe’s Angels—our elite task force of art-loving visionaries. Your support helps artists create bold, risky, urgent work and keeps Fringe spaces inclusive, surprising and full of possibility. Our donor program supports artists year-round, not just during the Festival.

We think the ingenuity of artists like Isabella (who literally made this video on the smell of an oily sequin, filmed at Fringe Common Rooms of course) is what makes Melbourne such an extraordinary place to live, work and see art. We like to be proof that you can make something seemingly possible happen with creativity, hard work and the buy-in from your community. We need your support, and we need to spread the word as far as possible.

The Renaissance didn’t run on good vibes alone (neither does Trades Hall — trust us, we’ve tried). To pull this off, we need brave patrons who back bold ideas before they make history.

Donate today and help us build the future of independent art.

Make a donation

Online– select the amount you want to donate (or choose your own) and add it to your account.
Phone– give us a buzz on 03 9660 9600 and we can process your donation live on air (we’ll even sing you a thank you song)
Cheque or EFT – just fill out the online form here and then donate by sending your donation by bank transfer or snail mailing us a cheque (take a look at the form for our bank/post details).

Dead Fringers’ Society

Leave a legacy that’s anything but ordinary. 

Entrusting a gift to Melbourne Fringe in your will is a powerful way to leave an enduring impression on our vibrant arts landscape. It’s a bold declaration that will resonate far beyond your time on this mortal coil – that artistic independence is vital to our society.

Fuel Melbourne Fringe beyond the final curtain. 
When you choose to include Melbourne Fringe in your will, you’re not just contributing to the arts; you’re fuelling a creative culture, and ensuring that our most daring, unconventional, and audacious artists will continue to thrive in a world desperate for their spark. A bequest forms part of your cultural footprint – a testament to your values, passions, and the impact you wish to have on future generations.

What is a bequest? 
Put simply, a bequest is a gift that you leave in your will – they’re sometimes called legacy donations. And though they might sound complicated or confronting (we get it; it can be weird to talk about death), bequests can be made by anyone with just a few simple words in your will. It can be a little, or more than a little. Everything is up to you – the only thing that is essential is that you speak to a solicitor about getting the words right.

The impact of your gift will echo long into the future. 
Importantly, your gift provides Melbourne Fringe with financial stability, allowing us to plan confidently for the future. With your visionary support, Melbourne Fringe can keep pushing the envelope, building a cultural landscape where creativity knows no bounds, and where your impact echoes long into the future.

“I’m a real believer in supporting vital organisations that help make the world a better place. And I was compelled to support Fringe because of its philosophy of equal opportunity and support for artists… The best part about leaving a gift in your will is that (hopefully) you will have a lot more to give when you shuffle off this mortal coil. You might have a house by then, or a pretty inheritance. Even as a young person, your accumulated wealth, like your super, can go a long way in supporting causes you care about.” – Mel McShane

Reach out to us. 
If you are considering leaving Melbourne Fringe a gift in your will, please get in touch with us to confidentially discuss how we can best acknowledge your contribution, or to answer any of your questions. Trust us when we say we don’t want you to die. But when you do, we hope you’ll support us to keep creativity thriving.

For more information about Dead Fringers’ Society, we’ve got a handy little one (or two) pager available soon for download.

In the meantime, you can have a chat with:

Miranda Borman
Head of Development
miranda@melbournefringe.com.au
03 9660 9600