The Adelaide Fringe is giving artists, designers, students and amateurs alike the chance of a lifetime to design the 2011 Fringe poster.

For the first time, all design submissions will be made online and entrants are encouraged to incorporate a range of mediums such as animation, sculpture, photography, painting and computer-generated and digital imagery.

The Brief
We invite entrants to let their mind run free and create an iconic or ironic ‘King and Queen of the Fringe’. They could exist in a parallel Adelaide Fringe universe but must embody the creative spirit of the Adelaide Fringe. From cyber punk to manga, street art to pop, our very own Fringe Royalty exists in a fantastical world where only the strongest, boldest and most colourful will survive.

Only create a ‘King and Queen of the Fringe’ and do not include the ‘Adelaide Fringe 2011′ text or dates.

The Perks
The winner will enjoy national and international exposure, their design promoting the largest arts event in the Southern Hemisphere. The image will feature on the front cover of the largest arts festival print run in Australia, the 2011 Adelaide Fringe Guide and to sweeten the deal the winner will also receive a $1,000 Flight Centre
travel voucher.

When: The Adelaide Fringe 2011 Poster Competition is open from Saturday 24th July until Wednesday 8th September 2010.
What You Need: Download your entry form here.
How to Enter: Submit your design and completed Fringe Poster entry form to: buzz@adelaidefringe.com.au (max 10MB) by 5pm, Wednesday 8th September.

The 2011 Adelaide Fringe will be held from 18 February to 13 March 2011.

Do you own and/or operate a pub, club, studio, theatre, gallery, restaurant, cafe, prominent workspace, dilapidated disused building, shipping container or sizeable garden shed?

Then you could participate in the 2011 Adelaide Fringe by registering your venue for next year’s festival.

It seems like only yesterday that we were picking ‘Corn Star’ kernals out of our teeth and holding our sides in after a night of laughs at the Bosco Theatre, but preparations for next year’s Fringe Festival are already underway. First things first; the festival organisers need a good spread of venues in which to host the weird and whacky events already being planned in 2011. And with the bizarre venues chosen at this year’s Fringe, if you own four walls and an elevated stage, you could be hosting your very own Fringe venue next year.

Some of the more left-of-centre venues at this year’s festival included the disused laneway off Grenfell Street that was triumphantly converted into Arcade Lane and subsequently judged the best venue of 2010, an artist’s garage that was transformed into an exhibition space, a 44-seat bus used to host a travelling show about op shopping, and a shipping container in which a dance show took place. The possibilities are literally endless.

So if you’re keen on contributing to Adelaide’s unique and iconic Fringe Festival, you can find out all you need to know here or contact venues@adelaidefringe.com.au.

Is there a buyer out there for me?

If you were in Adelaide during Adelaide Fringe 2010, there’s no way you could have missed the giant inflatable astronauts dotted around town ranging in size from 10 to 14 metres. They were scaling buildings, chilling out in the city’s squares, dive-bombing Fringe venues, parks and educational institutions.

If you were a fan, have we got news for you!? As you can imagine, for an organisation like ours, we don’t really have further use for our beautiful inflatable friends so we’re offering one up for sale on ebay. Check it out here – the possibilities are endless…

“Suitable for a range of marketing activities where you need to create a point of interest. Can be attached to a building or roof. The inflatable comes complete with industrial inflation blower and anchor ropes. All the anchor points are double sewed and we can supply rating information for all of these points for those interested. Suit company looking to create a marketing spalsh or concert, event or theatrical companies looking for interesting design collateral.”

Go on! You know you need one! Haste ye to ebay…

Greg Clarke, Adelaide Fringe 2011 Fringe Director, was appointed late last year and began working at Adelaide Fringe in February 2010. This allowed for a seamless transition between Christie Anthoney and Sandy Verschoor as they finished on a high after their four years as Fringe Director and CEO respectively.

Born in Blackwood, Greg has been working in Sydney for the past 20 years as Manager at Belvoir St Theatre, running his own arts company and Senior Producer at Sydney Opera House. More recently he was Head of Events with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority staging large scale events including the Darling Harbour New Year’s Eve firework displays and music, dance, circus and food festivals.

What is it like it coming back to direct the Adelaide Fringe ?
It’s incredibly exciting to be back and I’m having an amazing time. Catching up with old friends, meeting new ones and experiencing this years Fringe as the new  Director has been truly mind-blowing and extremely inspiring.

What experience do you bring to Adelaide Fringe?
I’ve had an fantastic 20 year career working in the in the arts and entertainment industry in Sydney.  I’ve been a festival director, producer, artist, performer, art gallery manager, night club owner and entrepreneur.  As a producer at the Sydney Opera House I presented dance, music, theatre, cabaret, and the Message Sticks Film Festival, so to be able to lead a cultural organisation that brings so many diverse art-forms together in the one big three week party really excites me.

What else is it about Adelaide Fringe that appeals to you?
It’s a massive, multi-layered arts festival with an outstanding reputation that absolutely transforms this city. I love the fact that it is constantly evolving, revealing new spaces and venues, just as it’s an open access festival exposing people to fascinating new experiences and stimulating ideas. Every art form is represented, from the visual arts to contemporary dance, music, circus, theatre, puppetry, multi-media, cabaret and comedy. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Can you tell us about some of your vision for the Adelaide Fringe?
I aim to ensure that Adelaide Fringe continues to be the pre-eminent arts event in Australia and the Asia Pacific. That it continues to attract, support and promote innovative, unique and diverse artists and events that audiences are going to be blown away by, talk about and spread the word that you just have to attend this festival no matter what.

To build new audiences and help artists sell more tickets we aim to create a central Fringe hub right in the middle of the city.  Featuring a performance stage and information and box office, artists will be able to publicly showcase and promote their work and give audiences a taste of the Fringe.

Working with a Creative Producer, we will facilitate and collaborate with local artists and Adelaide’s diverse communities in creating free public art events, installations and celebrations that will enliven the city and really set Adelaide Fringe apart from any other festival in the world.

Upcoming Adelaide Fringe Dates:
Venue Registrations – Open July 2010
Adelaide Fringe 2011 Poster Competition – Open late July/ early August 2010
Artist Registrations – Open mid August 2010
Adelaide Fringe 2011: Friday February 18 – Sunday March 13

If you’re interested give us a call 8100 2000 or email marketing@adelaidefringe.com.au

I registered for fringe talk, my four week little fling.

It all began with ‘luck’ in a random twist of fate,

Then I saw a ‘little grey wolf ‘in the Garden very late!

I had ‘Heroin(e) for Breakfast’ It really blew my mind.

So bloody friggin brilliant, I would go a second time.

The circus tricked and teased me – got my friends up on the stage,

Then I got sexy with the ‘HOTTEST MAMA’ of the roaring twenties age.

In cyber space we travelled with Iexist.com,

It really made me question, where did we go wrong?

3D is just so hot right now! ‘Experimentia’ was thrilling,

The images were haunting, dark and rather chilling.

‘In almost an evening’ the comedy turned black,

Accidental Productions gave us ‘Umbrellas’ and a Mac.

They gave a great performance and a little naughty flash,

Later ‘Die Rotten Punkte’ rocked in German – high on hash.

Then we ‘looked into the darkness’ and weren’t all that impressed,

Despite the best of efforts, the writing was a mess.

What came next -just freaked me out – Is he a medium for real?

Those ‘Six impossible things’ before a hearty meal.

Nida brought the ‘Sex Wars’ – this was way outside the box

But absolutely loved it, all three really rocked.

‘Antigone’ was dismal, with dildos and no story,

God knows what they were thinking with all that morning glory!

Can’t believe I sat through two of ‘Renegades’ renditions,

I’m surprised they weren’t evicted with banners and petitions.

Guy Masterson restored my faith that things would soon look brighter,

first came ‘Under Milkwood’ a one man wonder and reciter.

‘Scaramouche’ just broke my heart into seven tiny pieces,

I cried and cried and cried, sometimes we just need those releases.

‘Bully’ hit me hard and fast from every single corner,

His story sucked me in, I felt like I was now the mourner.

‘Rhinoceros’ was so absurd but wonderful to watch.

‘Weights’ just made me realise excuses aren’t a crutch.

Then I fell in love with Shakespeare, again and again and again,

with a little bit cello, cheese and some champagne.

The ‘Removalist ‘took me into a darker, bleaker space,

But it was ‘52 pickup’ that got the smile back on my face.

To finish where I started my head is in a spin.

‘Heroin(e) for breakfast’ has been the most amazing thing!

I know that now it’s over I will be a little blue,

With ‘Amococo’ and the ‘garden’ gone, I’ll be lost for what to do!

So now it’s back to saving dollars, to fund my fringe addiction,

Next year I’ll see seven hundred things -why bother with restriction?

Regards Charlie P.S Next year the poem might be a bloody epic!

An Adelaide Fringe 2010  inspired poem by one of our avid Fringe fanatics.
Have you got your own? Add it to the Fringe Vault – for any year of the Fringe – www.fringevault.com.au

Check out more history at www.fringevault.com.au

The Fringe Vault allows you to search by year, to find information on ‘that show that you know, saw in 1982′ or seek out information on Adelaide Fringe Directors and Staff. Most of all, we want to hear from you – the Fringe Vault is where you can upload your memories and comment on events which you saw or took part in.

Got any old photos of venues? Artists? Fringe Parades? We want to put them in our archive so that they can take their place in history. So get going, take a look and sign up now to unlock your Adelaide Fringe Memories! www.fringevault.com.au

Congratulations to all the Adelaide Fringe Awards Finalists and Winners!

BankSA People’s Choice Award
WINNER: Words They Make with their Mouths
Operation Mincemeat
Scaramouche Jones

Adelaide Festival Centre inSPACE:development Award
WINNER: Too Far Again, Not Far Enough
Beatburger
Livefish
Nikki Aitken Presents

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Fringe Venue Operation
WINNER: Arcade Lane
Garden of Unearthly Delights
Higher Ground
The Birdcage
The Stables
Tuxedo Cat

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Puppetry
WINNER: The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer
Sarkadi’s Budapest Marionettes
Sticks Stones Broken Bones
The Grimstones – Hatched

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Dance
WINNER: Too Far Again, Not Far Enough
Foxing Round a Story
Pickled.
Sketches of Blood

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Circus
WINNER: Freefall
And the Little One Said
Controlled Falling Project
Dos or Duo

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Cabaret
WINNER: Where Was I?
Die Roten Punkte – Rock!
In Search of Atlantis
Nikki Aitken Presents
The Wau Wau Sisters’ Last Supper
When The Sex Is Gone

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Music
WINNER: C. W. Stoneking
Beatburger
Josh Bennett
Katie Noonan
The Adelaide Sax Pack Does the Eighties, Nineties and Naughties

Eran Svigos Award for Best Body of Work By An Individual
WINNER: Violet Cooper (The Cars That Ate Screamdance)
Sarah Beetson (”YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT: Eating Disorders In Fashion”)
Emma Hack (Exotic & Native Mandala with Broadhurst Delights)
Julie Millowick (Close to Home)
Todd Romanowycz (Romy Art)
Ryan Sims (Mechanical Workshop)

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Exhibition By A Collective
WINNER: Format Festival
2010 Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition
2010 Heysen Sculpture Biennial B5
Hedgemaze
Invisible Red Threads
Knitting Nancy
Palmer Sculpture Biennial 2010
Quiet Reader
Shapeshifter: City/Adelaide

BankSA Support Act Award
WINNER: When The Sex Is Gone
Foxing Round A Story
Nick Parnell – Bach to Brazil
Shapeshifter: City/Adelaide
Vigilantelope Presents Tale of the Golden Lease

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Emerging Comedian
WINNER: Granny Flaps – Opens Up
Sargasm
The Golden Phung
The List Operators

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Established Comedian
WINNER: Stevl Shefn and his Translator Fatima
Adam Hills – Mess Around
David O’Doherty – David O’Doh-party
Ivan Brackenbury’s Hospital Radio Roadshow
Hannah Gadsby – The Cliff Young Shuffle

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Theatre Production
WINNER: en route
a tiny chorus
Heroin(e) for Breakfast
The Event

Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Theatre Performer
WINNER: David Calvitto (The Event)
Eryn Jean Norvill (a tiny chorus)
Hayley Shillito (Heroin(e) for Breakfast)
Emily Tomlins (a tiny chorus)

Spirit of the Fringe Award
The Stars behind the Stars – Adelaide Fringe Staff

The  Common People Dance Project was performed during the Adelaide Street Theatre Festival last Saturday. And if you missed it… keep your ears and eyes peeled as we hear the music will be loud and clear another time during the Fringe!

Thanks to InDaily for the clip!