Adelaide Fringe

Adelaide Fringe

Connecting artistic practice with scholarship, debate and education

Adelaide University in partnership with Adelaide Fringe, come together to support emerging artists, expand access to live arts, and create new creative pathways for students and communities across South Australia.

Adelaide University through its legacy institutions, has been partnering with the Fringe since 2015. This long-standing relationship provides exclusive opportunities for our students to gain career-shaping, real-world experience in the arts sector. Through this partnership the University supports emerging talent and creative experimentation, while strengthening meaningful connections between artists, industry, students and communities.

In partnership with Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide University is committed to working with regional communities to enhance access to live arts and strengthen community connection—reinforcing the University’s commitment to creativity, inclusion, and cultural leadership.

Connecting on student learning

Our partnership provides students with real-world experience

This partnership creates meaningful pathways for students through internship opportunities, industry access, and professional development. Adelaide Fringe also has a strong history of employing graduates from the University’s creative programs.

In 2026, Adelaide University alumna and South Australian artist Billie Justice Thomson was the winner of the Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition. Her artwork, Cockatoo Call, became the official visual identity of Adelaide Fringe 2026, appearing across South Australia and nationally.

Adelaide University students have also undertaken internships with the Adelaide Fringe, including Katherine, an Economics and Media and Communication student.

Getting to peek behind the curtain and see all that goes into putting together such a large and iconic festival like the Adelaide Fringe has been an incredible experience. Through working on projects such as engagement reporting and website design, I’ve had the opportunity to use my classroom learning in a relevant, real-world setting, providing me with practical industry insight that I never would have gained otherwise. No matter what career path I ultimately go down, I am confident that the transferable skills I’ve developed during this internship will carry me in good stead.

Katherine
Adelaide University Economics, Media and Communication student

Increasing access

Removing barriers to access art and creative experiences

This collaboration ensures more people across South Australia can engage with world-class creative experiences, with Adelaide University becoming Touring Partner for The Dome in 2026, a 10-metre immersive cinema experience visiting Mount Gambier and Whyalla.

As part of the partnership, Adelaide University also offered subsidised tickets to Fringe Shows in Mount Gambier and Whyalla, including The Dome, helping to remove cost barriers and ensuring regional audiences have the opportunity to access large-scale arts experiences close to home. Over 2,000 people accessed subsidised tickets in Mount Gambier and Whyalla as part of this offering.

Adelaide University launches new partnership with Adelaide Fringe

Adelaide University and Adelaide Fringe expand the stage for artists and regions

Adelaide University is proud to partner with Adelaide Fringe, bringing together Australia’s newest major university and its biggest arts festival to support emerging artists, expand access to live arts, and create new creative pathways for students and communities across South Australia.