The Minnesota Fringe Adventure

Four years ago I left an organization I loved dearly and a staff that I admired to try a new adventure as the Executive Director of Minnesota Fringe. It wasn't an easy transition as my first day in the office was only 4 months before my first festival where we filled nearly 40,000 seats with adoring audiences to view over 800 performances. But with an amazing crew to prop me up, a multitude of talent on the stages, and a firm belief in the mission, we made magic happen in 11 days.

Since then, Fringe has taken big leaps to diversify our board, volunteers, staff, and artists, grow our audiences, expand programming, shore up our infrastructure, expand our partnerships and collaborations, and respond deftly to a global pandemic that is decimating our industry. Well, I guess I did say I was looking for a new adventure. 

Today, more than ever, I see the value in Minnesota Fringe as an artistic disruptor for local and national artists — to take bold risks, develop new ideas, and hoist themselves to the next rung of their artistic ladder. I see the $1.9 Million economic impact we have on our state and the $250,000 we pay out to local artists each year. I see the significance of fostering creativity for all artists and the importance of welcoming all audiences. 

And, if you see it too, then please donate to preserve this 28 year-old Minnesotan tradition and help this organization that I love dearly and the staff I so admire do what we do best: connect adventurous artists with adventurous audiences.