Edinburgh Fringe announces inclusivity drive

Edinburgh Fringe has partnered up with production company Nouveau Riche in a bid to make the festival “more inclusive and accessible” for Black and global majority artists.

The partnership follows a ‘call to action’ issued by the production company last year, in which it expressed its “distress and frustration” at the lack of progress towards “inclusion and anti-racism at the festival”.

Nouveau Riche will “build and manage a network for fringe participants who identify as Black and/or global majority”, at this year’s festival, the Stage reported.

The company will also work with the Fringe Society to provide resources for Black and global majority artists and gather feedback that will be used to build on the partnership in future years.

“There has historically been limited support available for Black and/or global majority artists taking part in fringe, and the Fringe Society acknowledges that this needs to change,” said Chris Snow, the Fringe Society’s Head of Artist Services.

“For real change to happen, it is vital that the Fringe Society, venues and producers work with partners like Nouveau Riche to understand how we can all support the festival to become more inclusive and accessible.”

Nouveau Riche is “one of the few black-led companies who head to the festival consistently and this is because there is little to no support for our communities,” said the company’s Senior Producer Sarah Jordan Verghese.

“I was delighted when the Fringe Society contacted us about a possible partnership to support the well-being and welfare of artists of colour heading to the festival,” she added.

“It’s important that we are listening to our communities and their experiences to shape the festival into a welcoming, safe and inclusive place for us.”