Calgary International Fringe Festival Society

Overview

The Calgary International Fringe Festival Society is a Canadian nonprofit organization responsible for organizing the Calgary Fringe Festival, a premier annual event celebrating fringe theatre in Calgary, Alberta. The society is registered with the Business Registration Number 867143877RR0001.

History

The history of the Calgary Fringe Festival is intertwined with the broader fringe movement, which originated in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947. In Calgary, the first semblance of a fringe festival was the Plan B Festival in 2000, organized in response to the cancellation of that year's planned Fringe festival. This effort demonstrated significant community interest in fringe theatre, with about 6,000 attendees over five days[1].

Official Calgary Fringe festivals began in 2001 and 2002, primarily managed by the Loose Moose Theatre company. However, after 2002, the festival paused due to logistical challenges. The current iteration of the Calgary Fringe Festival was inspired by Blair Gallant, who was influenced by his experiences at the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Gallant sought to create a similar sense of community and artistic freedom in Calgary[2][4].

Mission

The Calgary Fringe Festival Society aims to foster a vibrant cultural community by providing a platform for uncensored and non-juried artistic expression. The society strives to create an inclusive environment where diverse artists and audiences can engage freely, embodying the principles of tolerance and acceptance[2][4]. Key goals include:

• Community Building: To create a sense of community by blending bohemian artists with a socio-economically diverse group.
• Artistic Freedom: To provide a space where artists can create without restrictions.
• Diversity and Inclusivity: To ensure that the festival offers diverse art forms and allows the public to choose their engagement.

Principles

The society aligns with the guiding principles set by the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF), which include:

• Non-Juried Selection: Participants are selected on a first-come, first-served basis or through a lottery.
• Artist Compensation: 100% of ticket sales go directly to the artists.
• Artistic Freedom: Producers have no control over artistic content.
• Accessibility: Easy participation for all audiences and artists[5].

The Calgary International Fringe Festival Society plays a crucial role in maintaining this tradition, ensuring the continuous growth and vitality of fringe theatre in Calgary.