Calls for Artists: Fringe

What it is: The Toronto Fringe Festival’s site-specific performances take place in non-conventional theatre venues. We consider venues beyond the downtown core catchment area, into neighbourhoods across the City of Toronto.

Who it’s for: Artists intending to create a show outside of Toronto Fringe’s main venues. Artists interested in bringing the Toronto Fringe to their community. Artists able to access their own venue and ensure accessibility for patrons with mobility needs.

Application Deadline: Site-specific shows are accepted into the festival on a first come, first served basis. Applications will be accepted as of October 2, 2018 and will remain open until all slots are filled.

Cost to apply: Once you have submitted your application, we will review it. If approved, you must secure your venue and pay a participation fee. Only then will your event be considered part of the festival.

Fees are based on the total number of seats available across your entire run:

• 299 seats or less: $551
• 300-479 seats: $651
• 480+ seats: $751

Example calculation: 9 shows x 75 seat capacity = 675 total capacity, thus the fee would be $751.

Terms and Conditions:

You cannot accept more than one slot to the Fringe, including the lottery and site-specific categories. If you are successful in the lottery after securing a site-specific spot, you will be asked to forfeit one of your two spots and any fees paid by that time will not be refunded. Please note the following rules:

• The Company Name, Primary Contact and Secondary Contact cannot be changed once submitted.
• The Primary and Secondary contacts of a company cannot be the Primary and Secondary contacts for a second company.
• If an individual/company submits more than one application, ALL relevant applications will be removed from the consideration, and no refund will be given for the lottery application fee.
• If the Primary Contact cannot continue with a production, we reserve the right to withdraw it from the Festival.
• Companies are not allowed to sell or transfer their spot to another company. If we find that they have, both companies will be removed from The Festival and will forfeit 100% of their fees.
• Permission: If your piece is not an original work, your company must secure the necessary performance rights, or permission from the author to perform in The Fringe.
• Unions/Associations: Participants must pay the appropriate fees and obtain the necessary releases from their union/association, and should be prepared to provide us with proof of permissions in writing if necessary. The CAEA Festival Policy is currently available for most companies at the Toronto Fringe and Equity members should contact their rep to find out more.
• Time Limits: All Fringe performances start on time and cannot run past a 90 minute running time limit.
• The proposed venue must be confirmed before the application can be accepted.
• The proposed venue cannot be a traditional theatre venue.
• Applications that are submitted that are incomplete will not be accepted and will not qualify for a spot in the queue.
• Applications must demonstrate that the play is tied to the specifics of the venue in some way - the site is integral to the success of the work.
• A venue cannot host more than one site-specific show during the festival.

Rules for acceptable site-specific venue locations:

• Site-specific shows will be accepted from within the standard Fringe catchment area (south of Dupont Avenue, north of King Street, east of Dovercourt Avenue, and west of University Avenue) as well as from any neighbourhood within the Toronto city limits. Example neighbourhoods are the Danforth, North York, Roncesvalles, Leslieville, Regent Park, etc.
• Venues must be physically accessible and barrier free to all patrons; they must meet the requirements to allow all mobility devices to enter (entranceway, passage to performance space, appropriate places reserved in audience seating area, etc.), and be safe to the general public. Where washrooms will be expected to be available (i.e. any indoor spaces), the washrooms must meet Ontario Building Code Barrier Free standards.
• Public parks will not be accepted as proposed venues as the City of Toronto cannot allow ticketed events to take place
• NEW THIS YEAR: The application form will include a section to outline the access plan of the venue, as well as upload images of the entrance and space. We encourage you to compile this information before beginning your application. Submitting an application without this info will be considered incomplete and not eligible for assessment until all elements are submitted.
• Proposed venues may require a visit by Fringe staff before they are approved.
• We encourage all shows to sign a rental agreement with terms suitable to their specific needs with their venue.
• The Fringe’s liability insurance extends to all site-specific venues to protect the general public seeing a show in the space, but does not extend any coverage to damage done to the venue incurred by a company’s activities in the space.

How to Apply:

1. Go to eventotron.com and click on "Festivals" in the top left corner. You will be prompted to register for an account, or sign into your existing account (if you have applied or produced as part of the Toronto Fringe since 2017 or Next Stage 2018).
2. Once you are registered and logged in to Eventotron, you will see a listing of festivals. Click on "Apply" in the 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival section to open the application.
3. You are now at the Toronto Fringe 2019 All Categories Application form. To apply with your site-specific show, choose "Create a new event" where you will enter a title for your project then click NEXT. You can input “TBC your company name” if you do not have a title. Please do not create duplicate events with the same name (see 9. for more details).
4. The application form will now be opened fully and your name will appear as “Main Admin Contact.” To update this information, click the blue head icon to the right of the text box.
5. You will now you will be asked to submit a “Secondary Admin Contact.” Click the text box, enter the contact’s email address. then click “Add Contact.” Input your secondary contact’s First and Last Name, as well as their phone number. The Secondary Contact may not be changed once your application is submitted. Please double check this info before clicking “Save.” To update this information, click the blue head icon to the right of the text box.
6. You will now be asked to submit a “Company Name,” which will be credited as the Producing Company in the Fringe Program and printed materials. This name cannot be changed once your application is submitted.
7. If you are only applying to the Site-Specific category, click "NO" to entering the Main Lottery, to the Accessible Lottery, and to the CDAP Lottery. Click "YES" to entering the Site-Specific category.
8. Answer all the form's questions, paying attention to the help text within the form for exact instructions. If you run into any issues, or have any questions, please call Kendra at 416-966-1062 or email general@fringetoronto.com.
9. To see a list of all the questions on the application before logging into Eventotron, please click here.
10. Submit your application only once your application is complete. Your application will auto-save as you answer each question. To return to a saved application, sign into Eventotron and choose the “My event is already in Eventotron” option, then look up the title of your site-specific show.
11. If your company requires any accessibility accommodations in order to submit your site-specific application, please email access@fringetoronto.com and we will do our very best to help you.

Winner of the 2019 Adams Prize: Tamara Williamson, The Break Up Diet

Winners of the 2019 New Play Contest:

1st Place - Michelle Wise, Checkpoint 300
2nd Place - Jason Maghanoy, These Kids
3rd Place - Alysha Mohamed, My Hands Were Made for This