The official 2020 Adelaide Fringe Poster featuring a dazzling diamond design has been unveiled, marking the start of the festival’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
The striking poster design has been created by Adelaide-based multi-disciplinary artist Dave Court, who recently completed Adelaide’s largest street art mural in collaboration with Music SA.
“I feel super honoured and privileged that my design has been chosen, especially for such a landmark year of the Fringe,” said Court.
“As someone who’s grown up in Adelaide and been heavily involved in the creative scene, festival season has always been a highlight of the calendar and holds a very special and important place for me.”
“I think what I like most about the Fringe is how all encompassing it is – almost everyone in Adelaide is involved and affected in some way or other – and the opportunity it provides to connect Adelaide to the world in a meaningful way, whether it’s through visiting artists, producers or festival attendees.”
Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said the judging panel was impressed with the number of eye-catching designs submitted from artists and designers across the world as part of the annual poster competition.
“Dave’s design stood out to us because it not only embodies the Fringe’s diamond anniversary – it reflects the multi-faceted nature and playfulness of the Adelaide Fringe. There are so many sides to the Fringe thanks to its open-access nature and the incredible diversity of shows, venues and experiences on offer each year.”
“Our city shines brightly for 31 days and nights during the Adelaide Fringe and next year it will truly sparkle like never before. We are in the midst of planning some amazing experiences for Fringe-goers and we can’t wait to share more details later this year.”
In keeping with Adelaide Fringe’s open access nature, there is a long history of the official poster being chosen from a design competition that anyone from around the world can enter. Court joins esteemed company as an Adelaide Fringe poster designer, with previous winners including artists such as Pro Hart, Driller Jet Armstrong, Sue Ninham and Bronwyn Platten.
To celebrate the launch of the poster, Adelaide Fringe is running a competition for one lucky person to win an Adelaide Fringe Diamond Experience. Numbered diamond decals will be installed at locations across Adelaide, with Fringe lovers encouraged to photograph all 60 diamonds for their chance to win tickets to 60 shows at next year’s festival.
A second design that depicts a corner store plastered with Fringe posters, created by Adelaide artist Donovan Christie, has also been selected as the front cover of the limited edition 60 Years of Adelaide Fringe coffee table book. The book, which will be filled with memories from the festival’s six decades, is available for pre-sale online.
“It is such an honour to have my artwork selected to be the front cover of the book and be part of the Adelaide Fringe history,” said Donovan. “The Fringe has always been so close to my heart.”
As the official 2020 Adelaide Fringe poster is revealed, the Adelaide Fringe Board has also announced Director and CEO Heather Croall’s contract has been extended by two years to 2022.
Ms Croall delivered her first Adelaide Fringe in 2016, returning to Adelaide after almost a decade in the UK. Under her stewardship, the much-loved festival has experienced exceptional growth in terms of ticket sales, attendances, tourist visitation, philanthropy and industry engagement.
The impressive growth of the festival is one of the reasons her contract extension was an easy decision for the Board, according to Adelaide Fringe Chair David Minear. “Since joining Adelaide Fringe in mid-2015, Heather has proven herself to be a dynamic leader of our organisation. She is strategic, ideas-rich, agile and energetic,” said Mr Minear.
“Growth in that time has been exceptional – whatever measure you look at. The results of the Adelaide Fringe over the past four years speak for themselves. As we head towards our 60th anniversary in 2020, it’s good to know that the future of the Fringe is in such dedicated hands.”
The 2020 Adelaide Fringe runs 14 February to 15 March. For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.
Image: 2020 Adelaide Fringe Poster by Dave Court (supplied)