Orlando Fringe Theatre announced this week that they are closing down their downtown ArtSpace. Here is the written statement from their website:
In our continued commitment to improving the care and sustainability of our organization and its community of stakeholders, the Orlando Fringe Board of Directors and Leadership Team have made the responsible decision to cease operations at Fringe ArtSpace by the end of February, 2025.
Despite targeted financial support from the city’s Downtown Development Board earmarked for artists, Orlando Fringe continues to face overwhelming challenges beyond the scope that these funds allow us to address. The ongoing costs associated with the service and maintenance of an aging facility at that location – including utilities, HVAC replacement, flooding, safety concerns, and limited parking options – have made continued operations untenable. These costs are even harder to shoulder while we continue to struggle with low box office revenue.
Although this decision has been made deliberately and after much difficult discussion, we are deeply saddened by the impact the closure of Fringe ArtSpace will have on our artists, audiences, staff, and community. However, we look forward to being better positioned to focus our energy and resources on evolving and cultivating the event at the heart of the Orlando Fringe, the annual Orlando Fringe Festival, which will continue to be an integral contribution to the cultural fabric of our city.
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this journey, and we deeply believe that the spirit of creativity and collaboration that defined our time at the Fringe ArtSpace will continue to thrive as we enter this new chapter of Orlando Fringe history together.
The Aftermath
No one is sure where, or even if, Orlando Fringe will open a new ArtSpace. There are plenty of commercial spaces available around Orlando, but whether they’re suitable for a theater is the big question. Plus, the regular practice of commercial landlords jacking up the rent on a tenant after 2 – 5 years of being at the same location makes any move a risky one and means they would have to go through this again in a few years.
The closing of the ArtSpace does not affect the Orlando Fringe Festival at all, only the Fringe’s actual physical space in Orlando.
There are 38 theaters and performing arts spaces in Seminole, Orange, and Osceola Counties. But with Ron DeSantis’ attack on the arts and now the new presidential administration coming in, the arts are going to continue to struggle.
We already saw the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden shut down without warning because of financial difficulties, and now the Orlando Fringe will be closing its ArtSpace for similar reasons. However, unlike the Garden Theatre, the Fringe has given us plenty of warning (and will not be holding onto ticket sales and refusing to give refunds).
Arts organizations have always operated on a shoestring budget, and it’s not like they can handle unexpected repairs or major damages like HVAC repair and replacement. With the loss of state arts funding, we can expect to see a lot more closures and cost-cutting measures in theatre and other arts groups.
So, please support the Orlando Fringe and all Central Florida theatre with your attendance, your donations, and spreading the word about their shows.
Photo credit: Fringe ArtSpace Outside – Orlando Fringe Theatre
ArtSpace Main Stage – Kirk Moore