From the Fringe to the Hall of Fame: Celebrating Frank Ford AM

Before the Adelaide Cabaret Festival filled winter nights with sequins and song…

Before the Fringe grew into one of the world’s greatest celebrations of creativity…

Before queer stories could stand in the spotlight without fear…

There was Frank Ford AM. A mentor. A changemaker. A visionary who saw the arts not just as entertainment, but as revolution.

This year, Pride Adelaide is proud to announce that Frank Ford AM will be formally inducted into the South Australian Pride Hall of Fame at the South Australian Pride Gala on Friday 27 June 2025. The induction will be presented by Lucy Hood MP, Member for Adelaide, in recognition of Frank’s enduring impact on the cultural and LGBTQIA+ landscape of South Australia.

A Life Shaped by Storytelling

Frank Ford’s story begins in The Rocks, Sydney, where a childhood steeped in curiosity and creativity led to a scholarship to Teachers College. It was the first step on a lifelong journey into the arts—one that would take him across the world and back again, with each stop adding richness and depth to his vision.

From Frankfurt and London to Beirut, Rio de Janeiro and New York, Frank’s international experiences shaped a belief that would come to define his life: that storytelling has the power to shift culture, transform communities, and spark lasting change.

When Frank returned to Australia in 1974, he brought with him a global perspective and a deep sense of purpose. He quickly became part of Adelaide’s growing cultural movement—championing new Australian drama, uniting fragmented theatre communities, and mentoring a generation of emerging artists through his work at the Adelaide College of Advanced Education.

But Frank didn’t stop there.

He became the inaugural Chair of the Adelaide Fringe, passionately advocating for it to become an “open platform for the arts.” That bold vision remains the foundation of what the Fringe is today—a festival built on courage, risk-taking, and the belief that everyone deserves a stage.

In 2000, Frank founded the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, a gift to South Australia that remains one of its most cherished cultural events. Through cabaret, he created a space where queer stories, politics, humour, and heart could shine—often with sparkles, feathers, and full-throated pride.

Over the years, Frank’s influence touched Carclew, Australian Dance Theatre, Country Arts SA, the Adelaide Festival and so many others. He served on boards, offered guidance, and consistently showed up—always championing bold ideas, diverse voices, and marginalised communities.

Frank Ford AM was more than a cultural titan—he was a proud gay man who lived his truth long before it was easy to do so. His 40-year partnership with his husband, Sam, was filled with laughter, kindness, wisdom, and strength. Together, they shared a life of art, activism and unwavering support for one another.

Though Frank passed away in 2018, his legacy endures in every performer who dares to be different, in every festival that centres inclusion, and in every young person who sees themselves reflected on a stage he helped build.

A Hall of Fame Induction with Meaning

As we mark 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in South Australia, there could be no more fitting time to honour a man who helped pave the way—not just through words, but through actions, spaces, and legacies that continue to uplift and empower.

At the South Australian Pride Gala on Friday 27 June, Frank will be inducted into the South Australian Pride Hall of Fame, formally presented by Lucy Hood MP. The moment will serve as both a tribute and a call to continue the work Frank started—building a future where LGBTQIA+ creativity shines without fear, without compromise, and without limits.

Frank Ford AM didn’t just support the arts—he transformed them. He didn’t just open doors—he built the stage. And he didn’t just dream of a better future—he helped make it real.

In remembering Frank, we honour not just what he gave us, but what he inspired in us: the courage to be bold, the generosity to lift others up, and the pride to take centre stage—together.

Join us as we celebrate this extraordinary induction and the enduring legacy of a true South Australian icon.