Network Dynamics and Career Trajectories in the Festival Industry: An Analysis of Two Fringe Festivals

This study explores the role of professional relationship networks in shaping career development, mobility, and visibility within Australia’s Fringe festival sector. Given the temporary, project-based nature of festival employment, professional ties play a critical role in accessing and sustaining work-based relationships. Drawing on Social Network Theory, this research employs Social Network Analysis (SNA) to examine the interpersonal structures of core operational staff at the Adelaide Fringe Festival (n=34) and FRINGEWORLD Perth (n=14). Complementary qualitative data were collected through open-ended survey responses to capture lived experiences of career progression in the sector. Our findings reveal the importance of networks in providing career opportunities and support. They show that individuals with high in-degree centrality—those frequently named as collaborators—were often regarded as influential in hiring and organisational decisions. Weak ties were frequently cited as important pathways into more sustained roles, particularly for those transitioning from casual or volunteer positions. This study demonstrates the value of SNA-based methodologies in identifying structural inequalities, informal access points, and central actors within festival organisations