About Darwin Fringe
The biggest platform for emerging, independent and experimental artists in the NT, Darwin Fringe is your 10 day multi arts Festival with bite.
What is a Fringe Festival?
Starting in 1947 when 8 artists performed outside of the Edinburgh Festival after not being accepted into the program, the movement has rapidly grown into a network of 300+ independent Festivals world wide. While every Fringe festival is different, we all share a commitment to artistic freedom, experimentation and creating opportunities for artists to present new work. Darwin is proud to house the most northern Fringe Festival in Australia. Read more about the history of Fringes by clicking here.
Our Vision
A supportive, diverse, and exciting local arts sector with multiple opportunities for artistic growth, attracting local and national interest.
Our Mission
The Darwin Fringe is a hybrid open-access festival that supports the development of the arts community, providing opportunities for all artists to emerge, experiment, and showcase new and diverse works in Garramilla/Darwin to local and national audiences.
2027 Dates
July Friday 16th – Sunday 25th
The Board
Chair: Zoe Scrogings
Vice Chair & Public Officer: Kat Byron
Treasurer: Gina Machado
Secretary: Hannah Illingworth
Member: Claire McNamara
Member: Heather Docker
Member: Marna Paulson
Member: Michaela Nutt
Member: Steve Kyne
Pssst. We’re currently on the lookout for a new volunteer Treasurer. CLICK HERE to find out more.
Brief history
Fringe has long been part of Darwin’s cultural fabric, first appearing in the 1980s as a club-style offering within the Bougainvillea Festival (now Darwin Festival). It became a space for experimentation and collaboration, responding to the Territory’s rapidly growing creative landscape. In the early 2010s, a playful misprint saw the Festival briefly rebranded as the “Fridge Festival,” leading to a city-wide program of installations and performances. By 2014, local artists and producers identified a growing need for accessible, career-building opportunities. A group led by CJ Fraser-Bell relaunched Darwin Fringe as an open-access, independent arts festival in 2015, featuring just over 20 events and a dedicated team.
The Festival rapidly expanded, presenting over 180 performances from 100 shows by 2019. At this time leadership transitioned to current Director Hannah Illingworth, who has continued to grow the program while navigating challenges, including two major COVID-19 disruptions in 2020 and 2021. In 2019 Hannah held the role with Tamara Howie who later left town, resulting in the current leadership scenario.
In 2022, DFF became an independent incorporated entity after many years of Auspiced support from Brown’s Mart, and now runs with the guidance of a volunteer board. In 2024 Darwin Fringe Incorporated received Charity status as a Deductible Gift Recipient. Today, Darwin Fringe is a keystone event on the Territory’s arts calendar, recognised for fostering grassroots creativity and providing crucial stepping stones for artists across disciplines, acting as a true showcase of the Top End’s creative heartbeat.
Nowadays, the Darwin Fringe has become the biggest independent arts platform in the Top End offering audiences 10 days of unique low-cost experiences in July.
Darwin Fringe Incorporated Policy
Read our Policies and find out more about how we do things.
Team
Creative Director and CEO: Hannah Illingworth
Originally from Rubibi, Broome WA Hannah is passionate about empowering people through community arts and cultural development. With a career spanning 10+ years her practice values intention, sustainability, efficient systems, clear communications, adaptive procedures and intuition. Having grown up in regional Northern Australia often on cattle stations, Hannah was brought up knowing that innovation is vital, where sometimes there are no other options other than to give things a go. Early on she learnt the value of relationships and clear communication.
Hannah has acted in leadership positions with local art communities and has held roles across an array of events, services and venues. Beginning her career in Mount Isa QLD as a 16 year old custom shoe illustrator and event support person she has always been passionate about self-expression, learning and healing through creativity. Having lived and worked in Sydney and Broken Hill NSW for 2 years following Mount Isa Hannah returned to Gulumoerrgin, Darwin NT in late 2014 where she has now spent half of her life, having lived here from age 10 – 16.
Hannah’s creative practice explores dialectics, theology, culture and activism.