The Dunedin Fringe has just completed handing out funding for the development and presentation of new work for the 2014 Dunedin Fringe Festival which runs from 13-23 March.

The Festival funded 16 of the 38 applications received from artists from all over New Zealand. The total amount requested came to $57,500 with $20,000 available to give out.

Festival Director, Paul Smith, said the funding panel was required to make some tough decisions as everyone could not be funded.

“Our policy was to fund artists properly rather than giving everyone a small contribution”, said Mr Smith. “This means artists are better supported to succeed.”

“The funding is a huge boost to these artists and will make up at least a third of our Festival programme. This a very exciting time for the Festival as it means we can guarantee that we will be presenting a fantastic programme packed full of high quality shows showcasing a range of art forms.”

Funded artists:

• Anya & Isaac Sinclair (Dunedin)
• Full.Stop.Theatre (Wellington)
• Muted Crane Productions (Wellington)
• RAD Productions (Auckland)
• Emma Chalmers (Dunedin)
• Trick of the Light Theatre (Wellington)
• Blue Oyster Art Project Space (Dunedin)
• All You Can Eat Dance (Auckland)
• Lara Fischel-Chisholm (Auckland)
• Leyton Glen (Dunedin)
• Present Company (Auckland)
• Urban Heart Productions (Dunedin)
• Natalie Maria Clark (Auckland)
• Nicola Hansby (Dunedin)
• Val Smith (Auckland)
• Metonymic Trust (Dunedin)

The funding is part of a grant from Creative New Zealand who have been a long term partner of the Dunedin Fringe Festival.

The Festival put together a panel of industry experts to allocate the funding. Funding criteria were based on the level of innovation and experimentation, the standard of presentation and production, and originality.

The funding panellists were:

Scott Eady, Lecturer in Sculpture, Otago Polytechnic

Sofia Kalogeropoulou, Teaching Fellow, Dance Studies, University of Otago

Darren Stedman, Musician

Martyn Roberts, Allen Hall Theatre Manager and Professional Practice Fellow, Theatre Studies, University of Otago

Aaron Hawkins, Programme Director, Radio One 

Cara Paterson, Arts Advisor, Dunedin City Council

Paul Smith, Festival Director