Melbourne Fringe Independent Venue Commissions program matches artists with genre-specific venues across Melbourne.
Melbourne Fringe is offering $2,500 commissions to Victorian artists creating new works for this year’s festival.
The Melbourne Fringe Independent Venue Commissions program aims to support emerging and established artists by pairing them with specific independent venues that complement their genre. This strategic approach ensures that works are presented in spaces tailored to showcase each art form’s unique requirements.
Melbourne Fringe Independent Venue Commissions
- Cabaret or Theatre – Motley Bauhaus
- Circus or Kids – Gasworks Arts Park
- Comedy – The Improv Conspiracy/Theory Bar
- Dance & Physical Theatre – Dancehouse
- Experimental, Words & Ideas, Music or Visual Arts – Abbotsford Convent
Check out our gig guide, our stage guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Genre-specific venue matches
Each artistic genre has been matched with a corresponding venue that specialises in that particular art form. Cabaret and theatre works will be presented at Motley Bauhaus, while circus and kids’ programming will find a home at Gasworks Arts Park.
Comedy performances will take place at The Improv Conspiracy/Theory Bar, and dance and physical theatre works will be hosted at Dancehouse. For experimental works, words and ideas, music, or visual arts, the atmospheric spaces of Abbotsford Convent will serve as the backdrop.
The funding opportunity is open to any artist or collective based in Victoria working in any art form. Successful applicants must agree to present their work at the designated venue associated with their genre as part of the funding conditions.
The paired venue approach streamlines the often complicated process of securing both funding and an appropriate performance space, allowing artists to focus on developing their work rather than venue logistics.
Supporting new creative works
This initiative represents Melbourne Fringe’s ongoing commitment to championing independent arts and fostering innovative creative expression across Victoria. By providing both financial support and venue security, the program addresses two significant barriers faced by independent artists.
The $2,500 commissions will help offset production costs, while the pre-arranged venue partnerships eliminate the challenge of finding suitable performance spaces during the competitive festival period.
Melbourne Fringe has long been a cornerstone of Victoria’s independent arts scene, providing platforms for artists to experiment, take risks, and develop new works across multiple disciplines. The festival operates with a commitment to accessibility, diversity, and artistic innovation.
By structuring these commissions around specific venues, Melbourne Fringe continues its tradition of supporting the city’s independent arts infrastructure while simultaneously nurturing new creative voices.
For more information, head here.
