In 2002, the theme for the Fringe was 'Necessity is the Mother of Invention', celebrating the often lateral, innovative and always challenging journeys of creative artists and thinkers.

The 2002 Adelaide Fringe was held from 22 February - 17 March.

"This Fringe will be remembered as the year that the Fringe outgrew the Festival. In fact this will be remembered as the year the Festival was changed by the Fringe". Tim Lloyd, The Advertiser, March 18, 2002.

Under the combined creativity and leadership of the new Artistic Director, Katria Sedgwick and Chief Executive Officer, Jodi Glass, the 2002 Adelaide Fringe was acknowledged as the most outstanding Fringe Festival yet delivered.

The Adelaide Fringe 2002 program featured 422 registered events as well as 32 Special Events which were produced by the Adelaide Fringe. In the main program, the main program included 326 performing arts events, 94 visual arts exhibitions, 2 writing events and 41 Youth & Education Program events.

It was acknowledged as the most outstanding Fringe Festival yet delivered.

The Fringe Board had worked hard to address some of the issues addressed in the 2000/2001 Annual Report and these were fully confronted by the new Artistic Director, Katrina Sedgwick and the Chief Executive Officer, Jodi Glass.
 
The Fringe addressed the need to create a key focus or Hub by establishing The HUB, based for the first time in and around the Adelaide University and Union buildings. This provided a central space for artists and audiences to meet, hang out, debate, discuss and party together. It was a huge success! Read article 'Fringe finds it heart on Campus.'
 
Adelaide Fringe 2002 encompassed a diverse program of genres. The Fringe Matinee program gave audiences the chance to extend their engagement with the Fringe from the day through to the evening.
 
Fringe performances covered the Adelaide city area through to the surrounding suburbs to satellite Fringes in the Barossa Valley, Hahndorf, and Port Noarlunga. The regional centres of Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Mount Gambier and Renmark also hosted Fringe events.
 
In addition to the registered events, there were 32 special events produced by the Adelaide Fringe, including:

• Opening Night Parade & Opening Night Party
• Fringe 500 Closing event
• Fresh Bait South Australian emerging artist program
• Regional Program – Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Mount Gambier and Renmark
• Satellite Fringe – Barossa, Hahndorf and Port Noarlunga
• Fringe at the Port (Port Adelaide)
• Feature Film Program
• Mirrorball
• Kumangka Warpulaiadlu (ATSI Art Gallery)
• Gala4Kids
• Family Day
• 2002AD – analogue2digital electronic music conference

 
The Adelaide Fringe also coordinated a range of programs including a Visual Arts program, Youth & Education program and ATSI art program.
 
For the first time a Visitor & Economic Impact Survey was undertaken by Flinders University Professor, Jane James. This reported an economic impact to the state from the Adelaide Fringe as $15.6 million to $33.1 million. The top four nations for overseas visitors were the UK (44%), U.S.A. (19%), Canada and Japan (12%).

Sources:
Adelaide Fringe 2002 Visitor & Economic Impact Survey, Flinders University Professor. Jane James
2002 Fringe Guide