FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Greece
Address
Panagias Faneromenis 2Country
City
ThessalonikiProvince
ThessalonikiStreet address 2
54632Mobile Phone
+306938392579Telephone
00306938392579E-Mail (2)
jo@thessfringe.comWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2023Contact Person1
Jo ManavopoulouJob Title 1
Artistic DirectorContact Person 2
Mary MeridjenJob Title 2
Founder & DirectorOrganisation Type
Public/Private Non-Profit FoundationFields of Activity
ArtsGeneral Information
Fringe Arts is a women-led, non-profit cultural organization based in Thessaloniki, Greece, founded in 2023. It focuses on fostering international cultural exchange, inclusion and professional networking within the independent arts sector, with a strong emphasis on Euro-Mediterranean collaboration.
The organization is the founder and producer of the Thessaloniki Fringe Festival and is well connected with international festivals and cultural networks across Europe and the Mediterranean. Through festivals, networking activities and capacity-building initiatives, Fringe Arts acts as a facilitator of dialogue, peer-to-peer exchange and sustainable cross-border partnerships among artists and cultural professionals.
Mission and Objectives
The mission of Fringe Arts is to foster meaningful people-to-people connections and intercultural dialogue by using the Thessaloniki Fringe Festival and its year-round activities as platforms for networking, collaboration and learning among cultural professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Through participatory and dialogue-based approaches, Fringe Arts creates inclusive spaces where artists, cultural managers, emerging professionals and audiences can exchange knowledge, build trust and develop cross-border relationships that extend beyond single events.
Objectives
1. To strengthen cross-border networking among cultural professionals from the Euro-Mediterranean region.
2. To encourage collaboration through peer exchange and partnership-building.
3. To support capacity-building through knowledge sharing and learning.
4. To ensure inclusive participation, especially for women-led initiatives and underrepresented voices.
Main Projects / Activities
Fringe Arts operates as a platform for cultural exchange, networking and learning within the independent arts sector.
Its main activities include:
• Thessaloniki Fringe Festival – an annual multidisciplinary performing arts festival that functions as a meeting point for artists and cultural professionals, encouraging dialogue, professional exchange and cross-border connections.
• Year-round cultural activities (Fringe Echoes) – events and artistic initiatives that maintain continuous engagement between artists, audiences and cultural spaces beyond the festival period.
• International collaborations – participation in international festivals, networks and cultural events, strengthening partnerships and fostering cooperation across countries.
• Networking and educational initiatives – organization of networking events, training sessions and professional development activities that support knowledge sharing, capacity-building and collaboration.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
Fringe Arts contributes to the Network as an important connector within the independent performing arts sector in Greece, through its role as the organization behind the Thessaloniki Fringe Festival — the only fringe festival in the country linked to an international fringe network.
The organization supports the international mobility of artists, with performers going on to present their work in festivals and venues abroad after participating in the festival. Fringe Arts also shares innovative approaches to festival-making, including collaborative models, volunteer engagement, training opportunities and new professional pathways for emerging cultural workers.
Members of the team bring international experience from theatres and festivals in the UK, Spain and Germany, contributing knowledge and good practices related to intercultural cooperation, cultural management and cross-border collaboration.
Through this combination of local engagement and international connectivity, Fringe Arts acts as a bridge between local cultural communities and wider transnational networks.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
Fringe Arts wishes to join the ALF Network to strengthen its work in intercultural dialogue and people-to-people cooperation across the Euro-Mediterranean region. As an organization already active in international cultural exchange, joining the Network would allow us to connect with a broader range of civil society and cultural actors working on dialogue, inclusion and collaboration beyond the arts sector alone.
We see the ALF Network as an opportunity to deepen our networking, learning and partnership-building, while sharing our experience in facilitating exchange through festivals, networking formats and educational initiatives. Being part of the Network would support the development of new cross-border collaborations and more sustainable relationships between cultural professionals and communities from different cultural contexts.
Through this participation, we aim to contribute to and learn from a diverse community committed to mutual understanding, cooperation and shared cultural spaces in the region.