Saturday Mornings: Will the Singapore Fringe Festival 2027 Survive? Why the Arts Needs You Now

On MoneyFM 89.3’s  joins Saturday Mornings Show host Glenn van Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys welcome Melissa Lim, General Manager and Executive Producer of The Necessary Stage and the Singapore Fringe Festival, to discuss the urgent fundraising campaign needed to keep the 2027 Fringe alive. Since 2005, the Fringe has been one of Singapore’s most important platforms for socially engaged art. It has commissioned over 1,000 local artists and groups, presenting international works, and creating safe spaces for conversations on mental health, inequality, climate change, migrant workers, and identity. But with the loss of its long‑time title donor in 2025, rising post‑COVID costs, and a cautious corporate philanthropy climate, the festival is now facing a funding cliff. Despite a successful community‑driven campaign that kept the 2026 edition afloat, the current crowdfunding effort has raised just over $9,000 of the $80,000 needed, with the deadline looming on 31 March. Melissa shares why the Fringe matters — its commitment to emerging creators, accessibility for disabled audiences, and its belief that art must remain affordable and inclusive. She also explains what’s at stake if the festival disappears, especially in a year when even major theatre companies are struggling to survive. To support the campaign: https://bit.ly/standwiththefringe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.