Pretty tied up: An escape artist performs at a previous Fringe Festival event. (joelogon via Flickr)
With all the festivals in the Washington, D.C., area during the warm months, there’s something for nearly everybody.
Today, we’re highlighting the Capital Fringe Festival, which is taking place July 7-24. Capital Fringe is a “nonprofit organization founded in the summer of 2005” with a mission “to connect exploratory artists with adventurous audiences by creating outlets and spaces for creative, cutting-edge, and contemporary performance in the District.”
So, you might think some arty weirdos are taking foot at Capital Fringe Festival. You’d more than likely be right. It’s unique for other reasons, too, being the only major unjuried festival in D.C. and the second-largest unjuried fringe festival in the nation. It’s an open-access, self-producing event that occurs each July, providing all types of artists, established or not, a chance to shine in their own unique ways.
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The organization also sponsors the Fringe Training Factory, “a performance series focusing on contemporary works by local, national and international independent performing artists.” They also work with 30 underprivileged youths, helping them get creative through their Fringe Training Factory Youth-Led Producers.
Capital Fringe has won several awards, including the 2011 Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts.
What types of art will you see at Capital Fringe Festival? Theater, puppetry, spoken word, dance. Film and other visual arts may be on the bill, as well.
Not for the faint of heart, the festival claims there is no censorship involved, so maybe you leave the kids or your little nephew at home. Actually, the show listings on their site tip you off as far as mature content goes.
Here’s some information on ticket prices, which are varied, as well as a list of participating venues; 11 venues are listed this year. Metro stops are highlighted on the venue map as well.
Be sure to check out the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar, part of an area serving as Fort Fringe.
And many are making the trek. In 2010, the festival sold 28,000 ducats to 715 performances of 137 productions, where more than 2,000 artists participated in 12 venues located in the Mt. Vernon, Penn Quarter and Chinatown neighborhoods.
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Who knew D.C. had so many weirdos?
In fact, since the festival’s inception, the organization claims it has attracted 80,000 members of the District to the shindig, generated more than $1 million in revenue for the artists themselves and premiered 250-plus works.
That’s quite a bit of art going on.
So, apartment renters in Northwest, head out to the Capital Fringe Festival. Whether you’re fringy or not, you’re in store for some unconventional fun.
