Quantcast
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 2087

Orlando Fringe to abandon downtown theater space

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Orlando Fringe (Website)  announced earlier today that it would be ceasing operations of its downtown Fringe ArtSpace by the end of February 2025.

The theater festival took over the space formerly occupied by Mad Cow Theatre at 54 W. Church Street [GMap] back in October 19, 2022. The recruitment of Fringe to downtown was heavily subsidized by the Downtown Development Board, but according to a press release shared by Orlando Fringe, the public dollars were not enough to cover the costs associated with running the theater.

“Despite targeted financial support from the city’s Downtown Development Board earmarked for artists, Orlando Fringe continues to face overwhelming challenges beyond the scope that these funds allow us to address. The ongoing costs associated with the service and maintenance of an aging facility at that location – including utilities, HVAC replacement, flooding, safety concerns, and limited parking options – have made continued operations untenable. These costs are even harder to shoulder while we continue to struggle with low box office revenue… we look forward to being better positioned to focus our energy and resources on evolving and cultivating the event at the heart of the Orlando Fringe, the annual Orlando Fringe Festival, which will continue to be an integral contribution to the cultural fabric of our city.”
– ORLANDO FRINGE

Fringe will host its scheduled Winter programming, FestN4, from January 9-12 at ArtSpace along with some other unannounced events before closing its doors.

According to City Public Information Officer Andrea Otero, the lease for the theater was up at the end of 2024, but the City of Orlando has chosen to support Fringe’s use of the space through the end of February to help the non-profit complete its planned seasonal programming.

“While we are saddened by their departure, we respect their decision to focus on events and look forward to the annual Orlando Fringe Festival. The City of Orlando and the CRA remain committed to discovering and supporting artists while diversifying entertainment in downtown. A prime example of this is our new DTO Live! partnership between the Downtown Development Board and United Arts of Central Florida. DTO Live! is bringing hundreds of free arts and cultural events to the downtown corridor, with activations ranging from live music to interactive art, occurring daily and throughout the weekend. Third Thursday events continue to enliven the Downtown Arts District and DTO Live! is also helping to showcase new and diverse artists who have applied and been selected to perform. In terms of the current Fringe space, we are at the beginning stages of considering other options and are are excited by this opportunity to explore future uses.”

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The post Orlando Fringe to abandon downtown theater space appeared first on Bungalower.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 2087

Trending Articles