Philly's Fringe festival gets new waterfront home

Staff reports Modified: February 25, 2013 at 2:39 pm •  Published: February 25, 2013

Former Gov. Ed Rendell, who was mayor of Philadelphia when the Fringe began in 1997, said it helped revive the city's downtown and make it a more attractive place for young people to live and play.

"I remember people came to me and said, 'They're starting this thing called Fringe Festival,' and I said, 'Oh my gosh, are there going to be arrests?'" Rendell said with a laugh. "And they said, 'No, no, it's going to be all right."

The state has provided $1 million in seed money for the project and the remainder is coming from grants and donations, with all but $600,000 of the $7 million total already raised. The Fringe bought the building last summer for $750,000.

Organizers also unveiled the festival's name change to FringeArts, which previously was known as the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.

"We needed a name that fit on the marquee," Stuccio said.



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