Keep it Fringe announces £80,000 funding for artists next year - but only if they're English

The Keep It Fringe fund, set up by the Fringe Society’s honorary president, Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, in 2023, has received the grant from Arts Council England - England’s answer to Creative Scotland - to mark its 80th anniversary, but it is earmarked for England-based artists.

An announcement from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said the £80,000 funding, which is understood to be the only money currently available through the grant for next year, is to “directly support artists and companies based in England taking their work to the 2027 festival”. The Fringe Society’s policy states that if a funder has specific areas of interest, this can “shape” the pool of eligible recipients.

One Scottish theatre producer warned that Scottish artists are not getting the same level of support as their English counterparts and called for Creative Scotland to match Arts Council England's commitment.

Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Fringe Society, said the announcement was “only the beginning” and moved to reassure those based “outside England”.

The amount is twice the total available to artists who applied ahead of this year’s Fringe.

The amount available to artists through Keep it Fringe 2026 dropped by 93 per cent from the previous festival to just £30,000, after £1 million UK Government funding provided via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for the 2024 and 2025 festivals ran out.

Following the launch announcement, further donations from individuals including actor Miriam Margolyes increased the funding available to £40,000.

Renowned Scotland-born Fringe producer James Steel said: “Arts Council England deserves real credit for stepping up, just as the UK Government did in 2024 and 2025. English artists are getting more support from London. We are just not seeing this level of support for Scottish artists, creatives or producers.

“Scotland does support its artists at this festival and Made in Scotland is a showcase any nation would be proud of. But it is curated, export-led and limited to theatre, dance and music, around eighteen shows a year from well over a hundred applicants. There is no broad access bursary that a Scotland-based comedian, cabaret act or first-time company can simply apply to for 2027 - and English artists now have exactly that.”

He added: “As a Scot who built a producing career in London, I know exactly which way the talent flows when there is nothing to stay for.”

Mr Lankester said: “The Keep it Fringe fund is a vital means of support for artists coming to the festival, and we’re overjoyed that Arts Council England is supporting artists from England bringing work to Fringe 2027.

“For those outside England, rest assured, this is only the beginning – we fully intend to continue our fundraising and partnership efforts to ensure that many more artists from across the UK will be able to experience the benefit of the fund as well.to be part of it.”

Neil Darlison, director of theatre for Arts Council England, said: “We are delighted to be able to mark the Fringe’s 80th year through Keep it Fringe, directly supporting artists and companies based in England taking their work to the 2027 festival. We wish Tony and the team every success in future fundraising to further support artists across the country.”

This year, 402 applications were received for bursaries of £2,500 each.

A Creative Scotland spokesperson pointed to its Made in Scotland fund, which curates a programme to support Scottish artists at the Fringe to take their work beyond the festival.

They said: “Creative Scotland supports hundreds of artists year‑round to develop their practice, create new work and share it with audiences. The Edinburgh Fringe is a major shop window for that talent, and Made in Scotland is the key initiative through which we help Scotland‑based artists present their work there.

“The programme offers dedicated funding, including contributions of up to £25,000 towards production and presentation costs, making it easier for artists to bring ambitious work to the festival and reach audiences from around the world.”