About Us

Hauptsache Frei was founded as a festival for independent performing arts in Hamburg. Thanks to its successful concept, it has established itself in Hamburg and nationwide over the past 10 years. In the past nine editions, the festival has not only grown in terms of budget, duration, and the number of events, but also in its overall impact. It has long evolved from a small, local festival into a nationally recognized event and has established itself as a founding member of the FESTIVAL FRIENDS network at the national level. The leadership change that takes place every three years gives the festival the opportunity to renew itself while building on the accumulated experience and expertise.

In its 10th year, the festival takes on a new look and becomes Fringify – Independent Arts Festival Hamburg. The name change marks a new chapter in the festival’s development and emphasizes our vision of celebrating the diversity and vibrancy of the independent scene in Hamburg.

The English term “fringe” refers to outer areas or boundaries. Originally, the term was used to describe independent, experimental, and alternative art and theater productions that often take place outside the mainstream. Fringify follows this tradition by presenting the work of artists and groups from Hamburg’s independent scene and beyond.

With Ksenia Ravvina and Alexandar Hadjiev as the new artistic directors, the significance of the festival in Hamburg is being strengthened not only as an artistic but also as a political platform. Addressing structural discrimination and strengthening the participation of artists with refugee and migration backgrounds are central tasks for the upcoming editions. The already extensive experiences and strong local and national networks are now being expanded to include a robust international network, bringing a focus on sustainable and accessible structures into this partnership.

In addition to its structures, the festival provides its festival center in the form of a pavilion, aiming for shared use, networking, interaction, exchange, and greater visibility for a wide variety of participants. The Pavilion of the Free Arts is a laboratory, a presentation space, and a low-threshold venue located in the heart of the city.