What does your support for HFTco do?
When you support HFTco, every dollar makes a measurable impact on Hamilton’s arts scene.
A leader in Hamilton’s performing arts sector, HFTco showcases the performing arts community in the 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 20,000 attendees and audience members, paying more than $141,000 directly to 430+ 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!
Hamilton Fringe Festival gives 100% of the base ticket proceeds back to the artists. All of our Fringe Club, Kids Club, and Spark Teen programming is free. So how do we manage to keep the lights on?
The fact is that Hamilton Fringe relies entirely on the support of our funders, sponsors, and donors to bring the festival to life every July. But over the past year, massive cuts to public arts funding have put organizations like ours in a precarious position. In addition to those cuts already known, while the Fringe was in progress we were hit with a last-minute reduction in funding amounting to $50,000.
So this year—more than ever before—we’re looking to the generosity of Fringe-goers like YOU to help keep this festival afloat. If you’ve already donated, thank you so much. If you haven’t yet, now’s your chance.
Click on the “Donate Now” button below to help Hamilton Fringe Festival today.
You decide how much you’d like to give. All we ask is that while you make that decision, you consider what Hamilton Fringe means to you and how important the festival is to the city’s unique arts community.
In celebration of our 21 years as a company, we’ve set a Fringe Benefits fundraising target of $21,000—because we know that this incredible community of Fringe supporters can get us there.
So please tip the Fringe generously, and take pride in knowing that YOU are one of the reasons Hamilton Fringe will remain strong for years to come.
Quest #2: HFTco Village Housewarming Celebration
Our previous quest was a success! The Adventurers’ Guild raised a total of $3,420.37 to defeat the Deficit Dragon (68% of our $5,000 goal).
Shortly after the deadline passed – when we feared all hope might be lost – a Great Pegasus called Ifa (aka the incite Foundation for the Arts) heard our cries and eliminated the remaining deficit – defeating the dragon once and for all!
Now, we celebrate the rebuilding of HFTco Village with a community housewarming party!
Join the Adventurers’ Guild by donating at least $5/month or a one-time gift of $60. Choose from the Housewarming Wishlist below and let us know how you’d like to see your donation used!
Our goal is to complete Quest #2 in time for our big celebration event on February 13, 2025! (Stay tuned for more info about the big day!)
QUEST #2: The Village Housewarming Wishlist
Let’s celebrate the start of a new season with some much-needed wares for HFTco village. Every dollar makes a difference – and you decide where the money goes!
Squeaky Rubber Chicken
Loaded Presto Card For Our Spark Students
Comfy & Colourful Office Chair
Tabling Fee for Indigenous Vendors
Fringe Benefits Button Supplies
20 New Volunteer and Staff Shirts
Snacks & Drinks for Fringe Volunteers
Family Fringe Show
Surtitles and French Language Support
One FringeXChange Slot
ASL Interpretation for One Fringe Performance
One Month's Office Rent
HFTco Midwinter 50/50 Draw
Buy tickets, raise the jackpot, and support your local fringe!
Buy your tickets before the draw on February 13 at 8:55 PM EST for your chance to win half the total money raised. The other half? That goes towards key HFTco programs like the FringeXchange BIPGM and Disability Justice Artist slots, Fringe Club and Frost Bites programming, and our Artist Development programs like ALERT and Spark Teen Performance.
Buy 10 tickets for $10, 40 tickets for $20, and 120 tickets for $40 and watch the jackpot grow in real time!
If you have the winning 50/50 number, please contact us by email at communications@hftco.ca or by phone at 289-698-2234.
All raffle proceeds go towards key HFTco programs like the FringeXchange BIPGM and Disability Justice Artist slots, free Fringe Club and Frost Bites family programming, and our Artist Development programs like ALERT and Spark Teen Creation.
Full rules and regulations are available here.
The 50/50 draw administered by HFTco is a raffle licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (Lottery License #CGE1345126) where individuals purchase ticket(s) for the opportunity to win 50% of the total money raised through the sale of 50/50 tickets.
HFTco Midwinter 50/50 Draw!
Current jackpot: $770
Winner takes half – estimated prize: $385
WINNING TICKET: #99000139117
If you have the winning 50/50 number, please contact us by email at communications@hftco.ca or by phone at 289-698-2234.
Once the winner is verified by providing identification with photo ID, they will be given a cheque in the amount of the declared prize which, at a minimum, is 50% of the total sales for the draw. If the winner cannot provide photo ID, then the winning proceeds will be held until such identification can be provided. In the event a winner does not come forward, the winning ticket will be kept and held for 180 days from the date of the draw their ticket was purchased for. After that time period has elapsed the prize will be donated back to the HFTco with the approval of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
All raffle proceeds go towards key HFTco programs like the FringeXchange BIPGM and Disability Justice Artist slots, free Fringe Club and Frost Bites family programming, and our Artist Development programs like ALERT and Spark Teen Creation.
Full rules and regulations are available here.
The 50/50 draw administered by HFTco is a raffle licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (Lottery License #CGE1345126) where individuals purchase ticket(s) for the opportunity to win 50% of the total money raised through the sale of 50/50 tickets.
Quest #1: Defeat the Deficit Dragon – COMPLETED!
The Adventurers’ Guild raised $3,500 of our $5,000 goal. The dragon was wounded, but still threatening.
Shortly after the deadline passed – when we feared all hope might be lost – a Great Pegasus called Ifa (aka the incite Foundation for the Arts) heard our cries and eliminated the remaining deficit – defeating the dragon once and for all. We reached our goal! Quest #1 was a success!
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!
$500+
Joan Cosby
Nikki Shaffeeullah
Christine McComb (in honour of Diane Lumsden)
$250 - $499
Laura Ellis
Rita Berzaitis
Anonymous
$100 - $249
Christopher De Abreu
John Henhawk
Chuck McEwen
Bob & Diana Storek
Valerie VanLandschoot
Duncan Watts-Grant
Thomas Sorokowsky
Cynthia Lokker
Leslie Brunskill
Meaghan Drury
Nora Gaskin
Lauren Charman
Jennifer Walton
Brenda Anderson
Our Fringe Benefits Partners
Here's a list of the fine businesses who are supporting the Fringe Benefits Button campaign throughout July 2024!
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
Snooty Fox Pub | 1011 King St W
- 10% OFF all menu items
Grain & Grit Beer Co. | 11 Ewan Rd
- 10% OFF 12oz pours in the taproom
Studio 205 | 205 King Street E
- FREE americano with purchase
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
Pretty Grit | 128 James St N
- 10% OFF anything in store
J. H. Gordon Books | 314 King St E
- 15% OFF any in-store purchase
The Bard and Bear | 237 James St N
- 50% OFF game covers
Pintoh by Chef Keng | 21 John St N
- 2 for 1 appetizers
Daddy’s Plastic | 148 James St N
- 10% OFF anything in store
Bardo Locke St. | 258 Locke St S
- 10% OFF Food and Drinks
Bardo James St. | 14 James St N
- 10% OFF Food and Drinks
Toby’s Good Eats | 110 King St W
- 10% OFF Food and Drinks
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.
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