Submissions Now Open for All Out Arts’ 11th Annual FRESH FRUIT FESTIVAL A Celebration of LGBTQ Arts & Culture Running July 8-21 in NYC

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All Out Arts is now accepting submissions for the 11th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival, New York City’s grassroots, multidisciplinary international festival of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer arts and culture.  A cornucopia of various forms of artistic expression, the festival will be presented July 8-21, 2013 at The Wild Project in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Entries are accepted through February 25, 2013, and there is no submission fee if submitted by February 11, 2013.

“Going into our 11th year, we have thus far featured performers from every group within the national LGBTQ community, as well as artists from as far away as Kenya, the Philippines, Japan, the Caribbean and Israel,” says Festival Founder and Artistic Director Carol Polcovar. “We’re excited for what lies ahead as we begin a new decade in amplifying artistic voices traditionally unheard.

The Fresh Fruit Festival showcases the whole spectrum of LGBTQ lives as expressed in theatre, performance art, dance, film, spoken word, graphic arts, music and beyond.  Thus, if it is “art” and it reflects any aspect of the LGBTQ community and its culture, you are welcome to submit.  The Festival seeks diversity, “color,” and things less traditionally available in mass media.  Last years’ festival featured a “high stakes” poetry slam, two weeks of theater and performance art, dance, jazz, an art exhibit, variety acts, and a comedy show, among other works.

The Festival provides AEA-approved performance venues & production insurance, marketing & publicity assistance, ticketing Services, full performance staff (logistics manager; light/sound technicians; front of house), repertory lighting plot & sound system, networking events & more!

APPLICATION

Click here to learn more & apply online now for the 2013 Fresh Fruit Festival.

IMPORTANT DATES

Regular Deadline: February 11, 2013 (No Entry Fee)
Late Deadline: February 25, 2013 ($10 Late Fee)
Notification: March 15, 2013
Festival: July 8-21, 2013

OUR HISTORY

Fresh Fruit Festival was the creation of two long-established LGBTQ community arts groups:

New Village Productions, established in 1989, has produced ten LGBTQ short play festivals, including an international short play Festival in conjunction with the Vineyard Theater and Gay Games 1994. New Village Productions is a not-for-profit theater company committed to diversity and the celebration of difference, both in selection of material and by inclusion of disabled and minority artists.

All Out Arts’ mission since 1992 has been to bring together the diverse artistic, organizational, political and financial resources of the LGBT community to foster awareness of the value of LGBT arts. The mission of All Out Arts is to support and present LGBT art and artists to fight intolerance. All Out Arts fulfills its mission by supporting arts organizations within the community through fiscal sponsorship, events, contests, collaborations, networking events for emerging artists, and by sponsoring productions, concerts and displays of visual arts.

The Fresh Fruit Festival is the primary expression of All Out Arts’ mission.

FAQ

What if my work is accepted?

Upon acceptance you will receive a packet that includes an information sheet and a contract that must be returned within two weeks to reserve your place in the Festival. All producers are guaranteed, at no cost to them, a share of ticket sales; and you may also choose from co-production plans that will pay a higher share of ticket sales.

What is the performance schedule and when is it set?

Full-length works will be scheduled for at least 4 performances; and solo or shorter works for one or two performances.  Work that attracts excitement and audience energy may be extended.  Films will be scheduled for one or two showings.  The Festival schedule will be fixed by mid-April, with performances in July.

What does Fresh Fruit provide to participating artists?

AEA-Approved Performance Venues • Festival Publicity (flyers, press mailings, listings, email blasts) • Media Advertising • On-line Ticketing Services • AEA-Approved Production Insurance • Limited technical/dress rehearsal as determined by the Technical Director • Limited Rehearsal space when available • Festival staff: logistics manager; light/sound technician; front of house • Repertory lighting plot & sound system • Front of house staff • Glossy, full-color festival programs • Networking events for all participants • Marketing Assistance • We will support your application for funding, grants or scholarships available to you.

What are the Privileges of Being a “Fruitie” (by virtue of submitting work to the Festival)?

Fresh Fruit is intended not only to be a celebration of LGBT culture, but also a continuing source of support for LGBT artists. By submitting or presenting work at the Fresh Fruit Festival we welcome you as a “Fruitie,” to a community of supportive artists and patrons.  All works in the Festival are eligible for Awards in several categories based on audience and jury opinions. The Awards are held at a Gala event each Spring. What does Fresh Fruit expect of you? You donate your talent to the Fresh Fruit adventure. You will also supply anything you need to make your show notable.  That includes musicians, set, director, actors, sound and lighting design, special machinery, video or other equipment. In short, you put up the show the way you envision it.  We do not ask for any control over your copyright -- only that we are   mentioned in any program where the work we have presented is shown.

You must publicize your show and work to secure a suitable audience.  It’s your proven supporters who are most likely to attend and you must keep them informed.  By virtue of being in the festival and cross promotion with the other shows your group will build upon its support list.

What if my work is not accepted? 

First and foremost, just by submitting work your are a “Fruitie,” joining a supportive community of artists with unlimited access to our website, Facebook page and Yahoo groups.  We will also alert you to upcoming events and submission possibilities.

In addition, we maintain a waiting list of worthy artists whose work, for reasons of time or funding, we were not able to accept at first.  If there are cancellations or changes in schedule that will accommodate your work, we will contact you immediately. And, you can still participate in the Festival by having a staged reading at the Festival or presenting an excerpt of your work at our bimonthly Fresh Fruit Playhouse in an informal cabaret setting.