Newcastle Fringe Festival Welcomes Carol Duncan OAM to the Board
- intouch Magazine
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Newcastle Fringe Festival is entering a new chapter following its Annual General Meeting on 17 August, with founder and artistic director Phil Aughey is retiring from the board and respected broadcaster and community leader Carol Duncan OAM joining as a director.
Phil, who launched Newcastle Fringe in 2016, is moving on to focus on a number of artistic projects, including a resurrection of his acclaimed play The Exchange, a series of piano recitals for charity, rehearsals for his new play Delivering Debussy, and preparations for the inaugural Canberra Fringe.
“It was a difficult decision, but I have some exciting artistic pursuits I want to focus on,” said Phil.
“With the help of the board this Newcastle Fringe has grown to be such a wonderful success, I leave it in very capable hands.”
The festival is thrilled to welcome Carol Duncan, whose role will focus on community engagement. Carol is a prominent advocate for arts and culture in Newcastle, having served seven years as a Newcastle City Councillor, where she consistently championed the creative industries, live music, public art, and inclusive community initiatives. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2025 for her service to the Newcastle community.
“As a strong advocate for arts and culture in our city, I’m delighted to join the very talented Newcastle Fringe team to help them keep Newcastle's cultural heart beating,” Carol said.
“The strong growth of Newcastle Fringe in recent years clearly demonstrates the importance of creating opportunities for independent artists—of any genre—and of how much our community loves to be part of it.”
Chair Brooke Twyford said Carol’s appointment strengthens the board’s ability to deliver opportunities for artists and audiences alike.
“Phil’s vision and drive established the Newcastle Fringe Festival as a vital cultural platform for our region, and we thank him for his enormous contribution. As we look to the future, having Carol join our board is an incredible asset. Her experience and passion for community engagement will be invaluable as we continue to grow the festival,” Brooke said.
