[5] Beyond the main stage and exhibitions, the Berkeley Early Music Festival promotes community participants through its "Fringe" program.
The Fringe is a platform for self-produced concerts by Bay Area soloists and ensembles, and provides a performance outlet for a diverse range of artists, including recreational and educational groups, amateurs, pre-professionals, and rising stars.
In 2004 and 2008, during periods of financial stress, the California state's university system (Cal Performances' underwriter and the festival primary sponsor) was forced to withdraw.
The increased costs to use campus room forced all events (main, fringe and exhibition) to move off-campus to venues like the First Congregational Church of Berkeley.
Exhibitions and marketplace for period instruments, special events, as well as the fringe are also held in the nearby cities of San Francisco[7] or Palo Alto.