Stirling Fringe

Ralph's just back from The Edinburgh Fringe and as always it was a hoot.  Now obviously it's a well funded, well organised, long standing festival of fun and frolics, so when I heard there was going to be a new kid on the Fringe block I was all ears. The volunteer team of the inaugural Stirling Fringe bring news of this new event!

The Stirling Fringe Festival is a new festival of the arts in the heart of Scotland. Taking place for the very first time this September 12- 15, the aim of the non-profit festival is to encourage both locals and visitors to engage with all aspects of the arts - whether it's theatre, comedy, live music, art exhibitions, street performances or children's show.

Stirling Fringe Festival is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company run entirely by a small team of unpaid volunteers who have given up their time to make this festival a success and put Stirling on the Scottish and UK cultural map.

As a social enterprise they want to make the arts as accessible to as many people as possible, which means keeping ticket prices to an absolute minimum.

Unlike many similar events across the country, they have no corporate sponsorship and no major public funding behind them. They're really going out on a financial limb because they believe Stirling deserves a festival for the whole community and will make a significant contribution to the cultural landscape. 

Needless to say it's of paramount importance that local businesses and individuals help, but as with The Edinburgh Fringe, The Stirling Fringe is an event open to the world and as such we can all contribute!

They desperately need support to cover a range of costs, including venue hire, equipment hire and marketing costs. The amount they're asking for is a tiny fraction of the overall festival costs but would make a HUGE difference.

Remember, every penny they make gets ploughed straight back in to growing the festival in the future.

The four day festival will also feature children’s shows, poetry, spoken word performances, a mini beer festival and a spectacular Fringe ceilidh.

Highlights include appearances by comedians Des Clarke, Raymond Mearns, Stu Who and Father Ted star Michael Redmond. There's a live performance of Vivaldi’s Four Season, a concert by the Stirling Gaelic Choir and a special acoustic show from Pete Townshend’s little brother and fellow Who guitarist, Simon Townshend.

Rewards

Promise £5.00 +Thank You

You'll get a public thank you on Twitter and Facebook. And a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you're helping create a new festival.

200 rewards, 200 remaining

See more at: http://www.bloomvc.com/project/Stirling-Fringe-Festival#sthash.PcbGz4TS.dpuf

Founder and director of The Stirling 
Fringe Festival CIC, Barry McDonald, said...

 “We hope to put Stirling as much on Scotland’s cultural and artistic map as it is on the historical map.

"Stirling’s creative community is growing and we hope to showcase to the rest of the country what a rich seam of artistic talent we have, as well as attracting some of the most talented performers from across the UK and beyond."

"Plans for the 2014 festival are already being made and we hope to grow on the success of this year’s festival."


So if you're a lover of the arts, like a good laugh or enjoy great music, why not spare the price of a pint (or more) and help support the first year of this great new venture!