A fringey end

I-filed said :

It was a shame Gardner used “I, I, I” throughout “I’m pulling the event” etc, which made it sound like an ordinary commercial venture. Is he the only person involved? No wonder it is failing then – fringe events usually spring from community/sectoral energy, and the credit is shared around …

So true! It’s no surprise really, as it always seemed like ‘Jorian Gardiner and the same friends every year festival’.
I was amazed that when speaking on the radio he said they were ‘only’ 40 or 50K over budget last year. ONLY!?
Sadly it seems that he is just another person who is only passionate about something so long as the government coughs up first. Maybe he needs to remember that some of the greatest events in the world started on the credit card of an individual who wanted badly enough to try and make a difference.

George D said :

No loss. Anyone who wanted arts and culture in this city has already moved to Melbourne.

Honestly, what a crock. There are plenty of people in Canberra still creating amazing art and music and I feel proud to be a part of it. George D, if you want it then create it, do it, find it, make it, whatever. Don’t wait for it to be spoonfed to you. I don’t deny that more than a few brilliant canberra artists have moved on to the bright lights of melbourne, but please acknowledge the people we still have here, who are committed to making Canberra the vibrant and interesting place that it deserves to be, despite blows like this.

I attended most nights of the Fringe and judging by the crowds i would hardly say it was unwanted. I agree with Thumper, Canberra will be all the poorer for the loss of the Fringe, but people should consider it a wake up call to go check out and participate in some of the grassroots arts movements that are continuing here in the ACT, rather than dismissing them.

End rant.

Canberra will be all the poorer for the loss of this vibrant and exciting event.

Don’t you mean; “Jorian will be all the poorer for the loss of this event”?

Festivals like the Fringe aren’t just for the audience – these sort of small local festivals are where all sorts of artists get their start.

It is all very well to be willing to pay to see burlesque, but you can’t expect a professional burlesque performance worth big dollar ticket prices to spring up out of nowhere

The fringe festival was exactly that: fringe. Which means most people, by definition, don’t give a toss. And I am one of them.

bileduct said :

George D said :

No loss. Anyone who wanted arts and culture in this city has already moved to Melbourne.

Meanwhile, those with real, actual jobs continue to live their lives as though nothing happened at all.

+1. If I wanted to see burlesque performances I’d be quite content to pay for them. I certainly don’t expect the ACT Govt to provide free entertainment

George D said :

No loss. Anyone who wanted arts and culture in this city has already moved to Melbourne.

Meanwhile, those with real, actual jobs continue to live their lives as though nothing happened at all.

oops, meant Jorian

Not sure Jolien knows anyone else exists, other than the government who should pay for his follies

I’d rather my share of the money stayed with the public art- at least its permanent and more people can see it.