Dublin Fringe Festival Announces Exciting Change of Leadership

Dublin, Ireland – Dublin Fringe Festival today announces that, after two fantastic festivals at the helm, David Francis Moore, will be stepping down as Festival Director to pursue new opportunities, after the upcoming 2024 festival. 

Dublin Fringe Festival are also delighted to announce today that after five years as Artistic Projects Manager, Bee Sparks will step into the role of Festival Director, taking over from Moore in October 2024.

Bee first started working at Dublin Fringe Festival as Programming Assistant in 2016. She went to work in the UK at Gilded Balloon and Brighton Dome & Festival, but always wanted to return to Dublin Fringe Festival because of its vital commitment to supporting artists and artform development to create radical contemporary work. 

In 2019 she returned to Dublin Fringe Festival as Artistic Projects Manager, where she has spent the last five years supporting an exceptional and forward-thinking community of artists and arts-workers. She has worked on six successful editions of the festival, supporting over 3000 artist to realise 400+ premieres across artform. 

In her role at Dublin Fringe Festival, Bee champions the extraordinary artistic community in Dublin, working with artists to defy expectation, to take bold risks and to find frameworks that enable their artistic visions. She values radical kindness in her practise: with an emphasis on creating accessible, collaborative working environments that champion new voices and value the collective alongside the individual.

Dublin Fringe Festival extends its heartfelt thanks to David Francis Moore for his dedication and leadership. Both the board and team will be sad to see him go; however the festival looks forward to this exciting next chapter under the leadership of Bee Sparks as the new Festival Director. 

Reflecting on his departure, David Francis Moore said; "It has been an incredible journey leading Dublin Fringe Festival and witnessing the transformative power of the arts in our community. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together and excited to see Bee Sparks bring her unique vision and passion to the role. The festival is in excellent hands."

Commenting on the new appointment, Bee Sparks said; "Working at Dublin Fringe Festival is a joy and a privilege: no other organisation values artists and experimentation with as much heart and rigour. I’m honoured to step into this role and continue a legacy of bold leadership at Dublin Fringe Festival, taking over the helm from the exceptional David Francis Moore. I look forward to working with the fantastic board and team, alongside our engaged, committed and forward-thinking community of artists. Dublin Fringe Festival will continue to back the bold, the contemporary and the innovative, showcasing work reflective of a current Ireland to our intrepid audiences."

Lara Hickey, Chair of the Dublin Fringe Festival, expressed her gratitude to David and excitement for Bee’s appointment; “While it is with regret that we say farewell to David, it has been a pleasure to work with him on the 2023 and 2024 festivals, and we are so proud of the team he has built and the fantastic 30th Anniversary programme we are about to enjoy. On behalf of the Board and wider Dublin Fringe Festival team, community of artists and volunteers, we are delighted to welcome Bee Sparks into the role of Festival Director after more than six years of  incredible dedication to the Dublin Fringe Festival programme and most importantly to our community of artists, we cannot wait to see where Bee’s leadership will take us.”

Recruitment for the new Artistic Projects Manager will begin after this year’s festival. As the home to bold ideas, brave performing arts and adventurous audiences, the door is open for daring, determined and passionate individuals to take up this key artistic and programming role at Ireland’s largest multi-disciplinary arts festival into 2025 and beyond. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates. 

And not to be forgotten - this September, Dublin Fringe Festival is back and will celebrate 30 glorious years of bringing live performance and new artists' voices to the fore this year. For the past three decades, the festival has been driven by a love for the new, the now, the weird, and the wonderful. From 7th to 22nd September, 75 new shows with a staggering 520 performances in 29 venues will take place all across the city. There are 53 world premieres, 9 Irish premieres, and 7 Dublin premieres, with over 500 artists set to take over the city.

For more information on this year’s festival and to BOOK TICKETS visit fringefest.com.