Comedians Joe Lycett and Nish Kumar are among donors helping to improve accessibility for emerging artists at the Fringe this summer.
The donations support the Shedload-of-Future Fund, which awards £5,000 grants annually to those taking their work to the fringe for the first time.
Due to these donations, the 2026 fund has been expanded, with five grants available, an increase from the three grants available last year.
The fund aims to support emerging performers from the worlds of theatre, comedy, music, and the performing arts.
The grants are directed at those facing barriers to funding who are using the Fringe as a launchpad for their professional careers.
The fund is welcomed more than ever, with the fringe becoming increasingly inaccessible for performers due to the logistical costs of performing, particularly accommodation.
Grants for the Fringe are uncommon, and funding bodies such as Arts Council England do not support the use of their grants for Fringe performers.
When discussing the high cost of attending the festival with students, one student shared that their landlord had advertised their flat for the fringe period last year, for twice the monthly rent they had been paying previously.
The fund can be used toward any costs associated with bringing their show to the Fringe.
Applications are open from 11 March, and will close on 1 April, or after receiving 150 applications; whichever comes first.
Image by Ulia Makoveeva for The Student