We continue to support Brighton Fringe artists and the local arts ecosystem through our bursary schemes

The Pebble Trust Young People’s BURSARIES

Each winter we offer bursaries to young people who plan to put on an event at Brighton Fringe the following May. The event could be in any category including theatre, literature, visual arts, comedy, dance, cabaret, film or music. The awards are intended for artists at the beginning of their careers and applicants must be aged 25 or younger, live in Brighton and Hove and be bringing an event to the Fringe for the first time.

A panel of expert judges pick the winners who each receive £500 towards production costs. This money could be used for venue or equipment hire, marketing, props, tech support etc.

Bursary winners receive £500 plus:

• Up to three professional mentoring sessions with our judges. These sessions, which take place between January and May, have proved invaluable to previous bursary winners in the run-up to the Fringe.

• Brighton Fringe registration fees paid by The Pebble Trust. Once registered, the winners are part of the biggest arts festival in England and can access all the benefits offered by Brighton Fringe Participant Services.

Hannah Mulligan - The Space We Take

Hannah is a neurodiverse, emerging dance artist whose work focuses on eternalising the dancer through striking images. The Space We Take is a collaborative project between photographer and dancer that explores the use of light to paint movement.

Kitty Falcon - Sitting (In Silence)

A comic yet haunting exploration of grief and the unspeakable, Sitting (In Silence), will leave you reflecting on the things we choose not to say, the silence that can divide us and what “healing” really means.

Oblique Theatre - Cowpokes in a Bunkhouse

Cowpokes in a Bunkhouse is an absurd comedy play which explores the power of nature vs nurture between three unlikely acquaintances. Set in the Wild West, Judd, Buck and Kit must calm a herd of cows.. One of them begins to tell an old folk tale - but it seems each of the cowpokes have their own version of the same story...

The Brighton Fringe International Touring AWARD in association with The Pebble Trust

Outgoing

The outgoing touring bursary enables the winner to tour their Fringe event to one or more international Fringe festivals. Previous winners have travelled to cities such as Amsterdam, Sydney and San Diego. Up to £3,000 is available to be put towards travel, accommodation and other related costs. Judges from The Pebble Trust and the World Fringe Alliance select the winning show which is announced at the Awards Ceremony held on the final Sunday of Brighton Fringe. Entrants must be from Sussex.

2022’s winner was MOTHERLOAD! by Urban Foxes Collective, a quirky take on the subject of climate catastrophe which was funny and thought-provoking at the same time.

Applications are made via the Brighton Fringe website.

Incoming

In addition to the outgoing touring award, The Pebble Trust offers up to £3,000 to a winner from an international Fringe to bring their event to Brighton.  This year’s winner is The Disappeared, a powerful and gripping performance that tells the story of a queer artist's struggle against political oppression and exile. Amidst a government upheaval in South America, the artist is banished from their homeland, torn from their freedom and identity. The performance is a combination of queer cabaret and political protest, inviting the audience into a wild, fun, and sensual experience encapsulating the final moments of free artistic expression before the performer is forced into exile.

The show is based on the true story of Nova Duh's journey from Chile to Denmark via Mexico, where the artist fights to rediscover their voice and identity. The audience is drawn into an intense and captivating evening where live music, dance, burlesque, and elements of South American protest merge into a tale of resistance.