Mount Gambier’s annual Fringe festival will be revamped to comply with COVID-Safe guidelines – but will proceed in March next year.

The event will operate under a modified program from March 12-21.

Artistic Program Manager Louise Adams is in the early stages of working with artists and local venues, to compile a program that will honour the essence of a Fringe festival, whilst operating under COVID-Safe guidelines.

“While Fringe Mount Gambier will look a little different in 2021, we feel it is more important than ever to encourage art experiences, excitement and fun within our community, in a COVID-Safe way,” she said.

“Creativity is so often spurred by change and adversity and with so many artists keen to share that creativity and audiences eager to experience, we want to facilitate that,” Ms Adams said.

Fringe Mount Gambier will deliver three streams to the festival – Fringe Out, Fringe In and Fringe Up.

“Fringe Out will be a series of free and ticketed events in a variety of venues … it will also include an outreach program intended to deliver a range of performing and visual arts across aged care facilities and schools,” Ms Adams said.

“Fringe In is where the festival comes to you. From your homes experience online performances and arts activities, or even send us performances of your own to share.

Kids want to put on a magic show? Got a poem to recite and share with the world? Fringe In will compile your videos and deliver them online to a wider audience.

“In the lead-up to the festival, Fringe Up builds on the work done in previous years inviting shops, offices, businesses and iconic locations to Fringe Up their locations with the blue theme and help create a Fringey vibe throughout the city.”

Fringe Mount Gambier Marketing and Design Manager Talie Teakle said there would be a change to the upcoming festival’s motif.

“This year we have altered our icon from the traditional Fringe star, to a blue mushroom,” she said.

“As a grass roots festival in an area heavily influenced by forestry, we chose the mushroom to better represent the magical atmosphere that Fringe creates.”

While the 2021 festival might be a mini Fringe compared to pre COVID festivities, Ms Teakle said it still promised to deliver some cutting-edge performances and experiences throughout the city, to celebrate the arts in its many forms.

“Keep watching Fringe Mount Gambier social media channels and www.fringemountgambier.com.au as the details unfold,” she said.