The Fringe-Makers Program
In addition to a bunch of exciting Hamilton Fringe, Frost Bites, and other programming-related benefits, HFTco is proud to partner with leading theatre and performing arts organizations across the city to deliver exclusive ticket opportunities straight to your inbox.
With a monthly gift of $25 or more (Tier 2 and up), Fringe-Makers unlock the ability to reserve up to two complimentary tickets to select shows from our performance partners all over town—subject to availability. It’s our way of connecting you with Hamilton’s vibrant theatre community all year long.
Think of your Fringe-Makers membership like a Hamilton theatre community VIP pass!
Our current performance partners include: Theatre Aquarius, The Players’ Guild of Hamilton, Hamilton Theatre Inc, Theatre Ancaster, Dundas Little Theatre, Centre for the Talking Arts, and more to be announced!
Tier 1 – $10 to $24/month
- Complimentary 2026 Fringe Benefits Button.
- Website Recognition as a donor.
- Hamilton Fringe Festival program recognition as a donor.
- Access to monthly donor exclusive newsletter.
Tier 2 – $25 to $49/month
- All Tier 1 Fringe-Maker perks.
- Advanced mailed copy the Hamilton Fringe Festival and Frost Bites festival programs.
- 2 HFTco stickers.
- Reserve up to 2 complimentary tickets from performance partners – subject to availability.
Tier 3 – $50/month or more
- All Tier 1 & 2 Fringe-Maker perks.
- Complimentary “Keep Hamilton Weird” tote bag,
- Fringe Sampler 3-Show Pass to the Hamilton Fringe Festival.
- Other HFTco programming discounts and deals as announced!
What does your support for HFTco do?
When you support HFTco, every dollar makes a measurable impact on Hamilton’s arts scene.
A keystone organization in the city’s performing arts sector, HFTco showcases the performing arts community in the greater Hamilton region and beyond by supporting a diverse range of artists, works, and spaces that are inclusive, accessible, and innovative. HFTco produces the flagship Hamilton Fringe Festival, Artist Development initiatives and opportunities (ex: ALERT, Spark), the Frost Bites winter performance festival, and more.
Last year, HFTco programming played to over 30,000 attendees and audience members, paying more than $161,000 directly to 675+ artists, and creating jobs for over 50 arts & culture workers.
YOUR support is what makes this all possible. Together, let’s keep building, strengthening, and celebrating Hamilton’s unique, authentic, and wonderfully weird performing arts scene!
Check out some of the many items from local artists and arts organizations featured in our first ever silent auction!
HFTco’s One Starry Night Gala and Silent Auction is more than just a night out; it’s a celebration of our community and a chance to support independent arts in Hamilton. Come for the fun, stay for the cause, and leave with the memories of one unforgettable night.
The Silent Auction is available online from Thursday, May 30th to Thursday, June 6th at www.galabid.com/hftco.
Winners will be notified by HFTco staff after the auction closes. Items can be picked up at the HFTco office downtown Hamilton, or drop-off arrangements can be made.
Need more information on how to bid? Click below to check out our Silent Auction Guide and read through all the items up for auction!
THANK YOU To The HFTco Circle of SUPERFRIENDS!
HFTco is so grateful to the following donors who have made a contribution of $100 or greater since June 2024.
We couldn’t do it without you!
*Adventurers’ Guild members
$500+
Joan Cosby
Nikki Shaffeeullah
Jordan Aharoni
In memory of Diane Lumsden
$250 - $499
Laura Ellis*
Rita Berzaitis*
Brenda Anderson
Anonymous
$100 - $249
Leslie Brunskill
Amanda Cosby-Nesbitt*
Christopher De Abreu
Irene Feddema*
Jennifer Walton
Chris Adeney
Cynthia Lokker
Madeleine Szlafarski*
Jeannie Madadi*
Dan Penrose*
Emily Ferko*
Lauren Charman*
Matt Burtney*
Meaghan Drury*
Nora Gaskin*
James Allen*
Joseph Gaudet*
Dawn Bowdish*
Leslie Brunskill
Bob & Diana Storek
Neal Miller
Ruth Flynn
Kelly Wolf*
Chuck McEwen*
Nicola Simmons
Thomas Sorokowsky*
Valerie VanLandschoot*
Jason Thorne*
Cairine Wilson*
Our Fringe Benefits Partners
Showing your Fringe Benefits Button to these participating businesses during the 2025 Hamilton Fringe Festival gets you exclusive deals and discounts! That means more savings for you while you’re supporting the Fringe AND local businesses. It’s a rare win-win-win situation.
Brothers Grimm Bistro | 193 King St E
Welcome to Brother’s Grimm Bistro
A European inspired cellar bistro located in the heart of downtown Hamilton.
Check us out! A deliciously wild experience awaits!
Brothers Grimm Bistro book online or just walk in…
- Complementary Chocolate Torte and a Fringe course cocktail for $15 each
Mystic Ramen | 51 King William St
Mystic Ramen is a cozy, hip space on King William St, situated very near to several of the Fringe venues.
We can meet many dietary needs, such as vegan, gluten free and keto, because everyone deserves a delicious bowl of ramen!
Please join us before or after your show for meals and libations and the warmest service ever! Reservations encouraged. Thank you for supporting Hamilton Fringe! We can’t wait to see you.
- HALF price Appetizers with purchase of a bowl for all Fringe Benefits Buttons
Vintage Soul Geek | 279 King St E + 150 James St N
- 10% OFF everything in store
Café Oranje | 312 King St E
- 10% OFF food and drinks
Pub 36 on Hess | 36 Hess Street S
- 15% OFF food and drinks
Los Mayas Mexican Restaurant | 180 James Street S
- 10% OFF food and drinks
Selo Cafe | 13 Hess Street S
- 10% OFF food and drinks
Ooey Gooey’s | 107 George St
- Access to their secret single burger combo
Parma | 17 King William St
- $5 OFF on orders of $20 or more
- Extended hours for BOTH weekends of the Fringe Festival (Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm)
Piccolo | 17 King William St
- $5 OFF on orders of $20 or more
- Extended hours for BOTH weekends of the Fringe Festival (Sat 12pm-7pm, Sun 12pm-7pm)
The French | 37 King William St
- $5 OFF their SummerEats dinner menu
The Diplomat | 43 King William St
- $5 OFF their SummerEats dinner menu
The Mule | 41 King William St
- $5 OFF on orders of $20 or more
Electric Diner | 28 James St N
- $5 OFF on orders of $20 or more
Undefined | 35 King William St
- $8 sangrias
The Staircase Theatre | 27 Dundurn St N
- 10% OFF food Thursday to Sunday from 8PM to late
HAMBRGR | 49 King William St
- $6 Ontario draft pints
RELAY Coffee Roasters| 27 King William St
- $5 Red Sangria Spritz
- $5 Coffee Cake Latte 12 oz
- $5 The Crusher Light Lager
Every Dollar Makes A Measurable Difference
A donation of just $20 to the Fringe Benefits fund means a family with 4 kids can attend a Family Fringe show together.
A donation of $150 is enough to pay for one free arts workshop for up to 12 excited families at our Kids Club.
$650 means a free FringeXchange performance slot for a BIPOC artist, or an artist living with disability.
A donation of $1600 means the organization can afford to buy a new laptop for one of our many summer students to hone their arts administration skills, helping to create the next generation of Hamilton’s arts leaders.
And remember: HFTco offers so much more to Hamilton’s growing arts community beyond the flagship Hamilton Fringe Festival. When you donate, you can choose to target any one of these funding initiatives:
HFTCo Accessibility Enhancement Fund
Contributions to this fund supports HFTco’s accessibility initiatives including ASL interpretation, FringeXChange BIPGM Artist and Disability Justice Artist mentorships, Universal Access Enhancements, and more.
Youth & Artist Development Initiatives
HFTco is invested in developing emerging artists and supporting young people’s access to theatre. By donating to this fund, you are helping to support artist fees and workshops for the ALERT (Artistic Leadership and Entrepreneurial Training) Program, subsidized youth tickets to Family Fringe shows, summer job opportunities for young people, and more!
HFTCo General Operations
These donations support all aspects of HFTco festivals, artist development programs, administration, outreach, and events.
HFTCo General Operations
These donations support all aspects of HFTco festivals, artist development programs, administration, outreach, and events.
Access the Fringe
When donors contribute to the ACCESS THE FRINGE fund, this allows HFTco to contribute financial resources directly to multiple accessibility initiatives including our website redesign, ASL interpretation, FringeXChange: BIPOC Artist and Disability Justice Artist mentorships and bursaries, and more.
Youth Initiatives
The Hamilton Festival Theatre Company is invested in developing emerging artists and supporting young people’s access to theatre. By donating to our youth initiatives, you are helping to support artist fees and workshops for the ALERT (Artistic Leadership and Entrepreneurial Training) Program, subsidized youth tickets to Family Fringe shows, summer job opportunities for young people, and more!
The Gilded Hammer Awards
Hamilton Festival Theatre Company is pleased to present a celebration of achievement in the Hamilton theatre arts. You can sponsor an award designed to celebrate the fierce spirit of independent theatre artists; to award innovation and growth; to nurture emerging talent; and to recognize the national achievements of artists from Hamilton. A donation towards the event helps with cash prizes, artist fees, and more!
Beyond our general operations, our four primary funding initiatives are the new Artist Access Fund, The Gilded Hammer Awards, Access the Fringe, and Youth Initiatives. Learn more about each fund below. Donations of $20+ are entitled to a tax receipt.
Hamilton Festival Theatre Company is a registered charity | Charity Registration Number: 853476687RR0001
To send the Hamilton Festival Theatre Company a donation by mail, please make all donations payable to Hamilton Festival Theatre Company, and mail to:
Hamilton Festival Theatre Company
Attn: Executive Director
41 King William St, Suite 206
Hamilton, ON L8R 1A2
Our Donors
As we all know, COVID-19 has severely impacted the arts sector. Thank you to all of our donors that supported us through this challenging time!
Carlo Adamo
Dawn Cattapan
Liz Concordia
Vanina Dal Bello-Haas
Matt Grande
Paula Grove
Margot Haldenby
Amanda Hinkle Wallace
Steven Jackson
Susan Jasper
Peter Kanabe
Janet Kompare-Fritz
Tor Lukasik-Foss
Ted Lute
Peter Malysewich
Patti McLeod
Barbara Mead
Akira Ourique
Gregory Paskaruk
Linda Paskaruk
Dan Penrose
Gail Perry
Lisa Pezik
Joseph Richard
Virginia Schuler
Nicola Simmons
Sarah Smith
Paul Steep
Chris Sykes
Carolyne Tocco
Hernan Ugalde
Sharilyn Vandermolen
Clinton Walker
Tania Wojciechowski
Carla Zabek
Lorna Zaremba
Justin Shaw
Elizabeth Turnville
This list reflects donations made between Dec 2020 to Dec 2021 for all donations of $20 and above. Every amount makes a difference.
Please login to donate. If you’re already logged in, you can add your membership to your cart by clicking Donate Now button below and adding “Membership” to you cart and checking out.
