Update on the 2020 Great Salt Lake Fringe

Via release from the organization:

Due to COVID-19, the staff and board of the Great Salt Lake Fringe announce the cancellation of the 2020 Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival in its traditional form of in-person performances. We will be announcing a new kind of Fringe experience that will take place during the same two weeks in August (originally scheduled July 30 – Aug. 9, 2020).

As we navigate this difficult time, the safety of our artists, staff, volunteers, and audience is our top priority, which is why the 2020 festival cannot move forward as planned. Under Salt Lake County public health’s current phased reopening guidelines and the continued recommendation for social distancing, it will be impossible for our artists to move forward with rehearsals, and for our staff to execute the logistics of the 2020 festival. 

“The decision to cancel the 2020 festival was made in consultation with the Salt Lake County Health Department, our funders, and our partners, and we haven’t made it lightly. We have a responsibility to our festival artists and staff, and we know this will have a financial impact on our community,” said co-festival director Jay Perry. 

“Despite these challenges to the Fringe community, we applaud and fully support the efforts of the Salt Lake City department of health, the offices of our city and county mayors, and the governor’s office,” Perry added.

As a forge for independent theatre in Utah, we are dedicated to connecting artists with one another and creating space for new ideas to blossom. In that spirit, you’ll hear more from us this summer about programs and services we will be hosting for the arts community, and particularly for the artists affected by the cancellation of this year’s festival. Please check our website and social media for resources and regular updates.

As the Fringe pivots to new goals for the 2020 season and as we look forward to 2021, we are dedicated to: 

• Creating opportunities for local artists to connect with each other and audiences
• Advocating for independent artists, and providing access to resources
• Listening to our community to serve their needs however we can

“We know that Fringe is an important way for our community to connect with each other, and support each other. We’re not going anywhere, and still intend to create something in the spirit of Fringe for our community to share in,” said co-festival director Shianne Gray.

Artists can look forward to an upcoming call for applications for the 2021 Fringe in early spring of 2021. Festival staff is looking forward to picking up with the traditional festival next year—but keep the original dates of July 30 – Aug. 9th, 2020 open in your calendars. Staff will have something in the spirit of Fringe to share with artists and the community this summer.