Adelaide Fringe Wins SA Tourism Award for Excellence in Accessible Tourism
Wed, Nov 6 2024
Having won the inaugural award nationally in 2023, Adelaide Fringe has again been announced as the winner of Excellence in Accessible Tourism category at the 2024 South Australian Tourism Awards.
This is the third year in a row Adelaide Fringe has taken home gold in the South Australian Tourism Awards, having won the same award last year, and the Major Festivals and Events category in 2022.
Adelaide Fringe is a major contributor to the South Australian tourism economy, attracting more than 58,000 domestic and international visitors to Adelaide for the 2024 festival, creating a massive 360,318 visitor nights and generating $121M in new money for South Australia.
New initiatives in accessibility for Adelaide Fringe in 2024 included:
- Appointment of a Senior Diversity and Belonging Coordinator to roll out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
- Providing training to permanent and short term contracted staff on how to recognise hidden disabilities via Hidden Disability Sunflower
- Introducing visual communication boards and portable hearing loops at Box Offices and FringeWORKS
- Creating additional venue accessibility videos and social stories for Prompt Creative Centre and FringeWORKS artist hub, in addition to updated videos introduced in 2023 for Gluttony and the Garden of Unearthly Delights
- Introduction of sensory support for all Fringe-run events
- Providing volunteers with Human Guide training, Auslan training, Autism Awareness training and Mental Health Awareness training.
Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said, “We were absolutely thrilled to be recognised for our accessibility initiatives nationally earlier this year, and to win this award again confirms that we’re moving in the right direction. We remain motivated to champion our festival across Australia and globally, and continue to work towards becoming the most inclusive and accessible festival in the world”.
Survey feedback from Adelaide Fringe attendees reflects this vision, as one accessibility survey respondent said: “The staff were absolutely excellent in assisting with my accessibility needs. This was the first year I felt comfortable to express these needs (booking tickets via the website made this so easy). This year was my favourite season of Fringe by far as it was stress free knowing my needs would be met.”
“The team at Fringe are fully dedicated to delivering a world class festival for artists and audiences alike, so winning an award at the South Australian Tourism Awards is a massive testament to this commitment”, said Heather.
The Excellence in Accessible Tourism category recognises businesses that provide an experience that goes above and beyond to accommodate and cater for people with disability. Adelaide Fringe works with a range of Accessibility Partners to ensure artists and audiences of all abilities can make the most of our program.
The 2025 Adelaide Fringe will see existing initiatives continue to roll out, including Human Guide Training for all Volunteers by Guide Dogs SA/NT, the SACARE Carer's Lounge, and accessibility provisions for shows.