New Fringe Society HQ plan set to get go-ahead

A multi-million pound “headquarters” and museum for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is set to get the green light within days – amid warnings that a community centre earmarked for the project is at risk of closure if the project does not go ahead.

Senior council officials have recommended approval for a “new home” for the world's largest arts festival in a Victorian-era school building, near the Pleasance Courtyard and Assembly Roxy venues.

The South Bridge Resource Centre, which has been run as Fringe venue by Greenside in recent years, would be operated yearround by the Fringe Society, which has secured a £7m pledge of UK Government funding for the project. The council insists the proposed investment would “completely refurbish and modernise” the building.

Approval would end a seven-year search for a new base for the Fringe Society, which operates from three city centre buildings throughout the year and hires other spaces every August.

Under proposals being discussed by councillors this week, the Fringe hub would be permanently shared with the Canongate Youth project and other groups it works with, including Totally Sound and Reel Youth Media.

The Fringe Society has also pledged to ensure “affordable” studio, desk and event space is made available to community groups, grassroots organisations, individual artists and industry workers. It hopes to secure a 99-year lease to create “a flexible, functional and accessible space to bring artists, residents, community groups and the Fringe community together.”

A new Fringe Society report for councillors states that the community centre is “no longer fit for purpose” and in “urgent need of repair.”