For many early-career producers and performers, the Edinburgh Fringe is a place to hone skills, and build both an audience and an industry network.

Each year the Fringe Society seeks to help with that process via a programme of events at the Fringe Central performer hub, which once again this year will be based at the Grassmarket Centre on Candlemaker Row, the year round home of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket Community Project.

Explaining the role Fringe Central plays, the Fringe Society says, “we offer year-round support and services for Fringe artists, including advice on connecting with industry, marketing and communications advice, guidance on audience engagement, and how to resolve any challenges they may be having”, before adding, “these services will be available in person at Fringe Central throughout August”.

The Fringe Society is also working with local mental health charity Health In Mind for a third year to provide mental health and wellbeing support to the Fringe community. This support, the society says, is tailored to the artist’s needs, providing an opportunity to explore any difficulties artists are having while in Edinburgh.

Announcing this year’s activities, the Fringe Society’s Head Of Artist Services, Chris Snow, says, “We’re delighted to be working again with two brilliant Edinburgh-based charities, Grassmarket Community Project and Health In Mind, to deliver this year’s Fringe Central, after fantastic feedback from the thousands of Fringe participants who accessed our events and services last August”.

“We look forward to welcoming and meeting artists, arts industry, media and project partners to Fringe Central this August”, he adds, helping them “to find community, take a breather, and access our support”.