In addition to helping artists and performers stage their work, the festival runs the London Awards for Art and Performance each year in various art categories including Jazz Music, Theatre, Comedy and Film.
Initiated by a group of volunteers and enthusiast, the London Bridge festival was held in July 2009.
With support from the Southwark council and local businesses, the festival saw over 30 events in the span of three weeks, including stand up comedy, live music, film and art performances, concentrated mainly along Borough high Street and Tooley Street near London Bridge underground and railway station.
With the success of the event, and an increasing interest in theatre performances, and the lack of suitable theatre venues in the area spurred organizers to expand the scope of the festival to include London's West End, becoming the London Festival Fringe.
The festival also runs a London Awards for Art and Performance for Theatre and Playwright, Jazz[3] and New Music, New Comedy, Poetry[4] and Photography.