Brighton Fringe chief executive to step down after this year's festival

Since his appointment in October 2011, Julian has led the organisation through a sustained period of growth, also guiding it through the Covid pandemic and the immediate aftermath.

Under his leadership, Brighton Fringe has given out more than 300 bursaries and awards with support totalling over £150,000. It has also grown its Fringe Academy education programme, developed its international relationships and seasons, helped establish Brighton Spiegeltent in 2013 and this year will be setting up a brand-new Fringe venue, Caravanserai, North of St Peter’s Church.

The scale of the festival has also grown significantly during Julian’s time in post, seeing a more than tripling of audiences and artists’ revenues between 2011 and 2019, with the number of events increasing from 600 to 1,000 over the same period. The 2023 Brighton Fringe season will take place between May 5-June 4, featuring nearly 800 events in over 100 venues and pre-sales are already more than 70 per cent ahead of where they were at the same time last year.

Incoming chairman of Brighton Fringe Ltd. Duncan Lustig-Prean said “For nearly twelve years Julian has led Brighton Fringe with great passion, huge energy and distinction enabling it to grow to one of the largest Fringe Festivals in the world. He leaves an incredible legacy and will be a hard act to follow.”

Julian said “First and foremost, we have a festival starting in May and we want and need it to be brilliant so for as long as I am at Brighton Fringe, I am here to do the best I can to ensure that it is. It feels surreal to be leaving after so long though and it is still sinking in. The Fringe has come to be part of my identity and I have lived and breathed it over the past decade or more. Whilst it has not been without its challenges, it has been a huge privilege to be able to work for an organisation and festival which touches so many people’s lives. Providing a platform and voice for everyone is more important than ever and I am pleased that Brighton Fringe has been there to support artists and venues, especially over the past three years. In leaving, I look forward to seeing what the next person will do to take things even further and I am so grateful to the brilliant staff team and board who go above and beyond to make things happen. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank all the participants, venues, partners, funders, sponsors, volunteers, friends, reviewers, photographers and of course the audiences for making Brighton Fringe what it is. I will miss it.”

Julian will be joining North Yorkshire Council as director of the Scarborough Fair, creating four individual events each year, including a winter light festival, an affordable art trail, a street art festival and a major music and extreme sports festival.