Job Vacancy: Fringe Press Team

Summerhall Arts  are currently looking for 2 Press Office team members to join us for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. Summerhall provides a challenging and exciting environment to work in, requiring a range of skills and personal qualities and encouraging professional and personal growth.

As a Press Officer/Assistant, you will be part of a small but efficient team that is the first point of contact for thousands of journalists and industry visiting Summerhall in August. As well as looking after these journalists and companies within the building, you will be trusted to manage admin tasks, tickets and publicity for the building as a whole. 

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Manage and oversee issuing of press tickets to all accredited media (this will involve skilled admin time on Red61 alongside the Summerhall Box Office) 
  • Pitch to journalists and try and increase the number of press in the building
  • Ensure coverage is neatly and clearly on display around the building.
  • Liaise with and support companies where relevant with their publicity questions and ideas.
  • Respond thoughtfully to last minute and occasionally complicated requests. 
  • Pitch and matchmake shows with journalists. 
  • Support and be a friendly face for companies and media coming through the office.
  • Oversee the inbox, answering enquiries, logging requests and sending out press images and press materials for all shows at Summerhall.

Candidate requirements

essential (will vary based on specific role in the office)

  • Relevant experience of working in a theatre / cultural events press office or for a publisher / publication / media group. 
  • Have an interest in working in the media on either side of press or PR/marketing. 
  • Have experience using box office software. (Ideally Red61)

desirable

  • Have an interest in events at Summerhall and attend events and shows.
  • Have a good understanding of the Summerhall Arts Fringe programme.
  • Be tidy and focused on tasks in a timely order. 
  • Have a keen interest in seeing avant-garde, intersectional and new work. 
  • Have experience using Red61 Box Office software 

Direct Manager

Summerhall Arts Press Office Manager – Emma Ainley Walker (Storytelling PR Exec Director)

With day to day support from Fergus Craig – Press Office Lead. 

Key Internal Relationships

Summerhall Arts Box Office Managers, Marketing Manager, Programmer + Press Office Team. 

Key External Relationships

Visiting media, visiting companies.

Contract term

Essential training in later July during contracted hours. 

Position starts: 16/07/2025

Position finishes: 26/08/2025

Press Office Team will be required to work 6 days a week in August and 5 days a week in July. Shows in most venues run between 0900-2300 (though some run as late as 0300), and once the festival commences there will be shifts from 9am – 9pm (9 – 6, 10 – 7, 11 – 8pm)

Rate of pay

  • Press Officer – £13.00 per hour + holiday pay
  • Press Assistant – £12.60 per hour + holiday pay

Perks

  • You will receive a staff pass which gives you: First come first served access to fringe shows which are not sold out; food and drink discounts across the site

We work from a light, buzzy and busy office in Summerhall, Edinburgh.

We welcome those interested to send a cover letter and CV to

We welcome questions about the role to  

Have a look at our equal opps doc here