News

Fringe 2023 Application Process Open

Steve

To get your event included in Bath Fringe 2023, start by EMailing wendy@bathfringe.co.uk; she will provide you with a log-in to our submission process – you write your own listing [if necessary we edit for length or to avoid confusion].
The process will be online from
Applications close at midnight on Monday March 6
You can update your event until 6pm on Friday March 17 [or later in ‘emergencies’]
The Fringe runs from Friday May 26 to Sunday June 11, though if you have an event in the week before or after that we are generally glad to include that in our programmes.
There is a charge of £50 per event: this sum has not been increased since XXXX, and gets you in both our print and online programmes. There are reductions for repeat performances, series, etc., and you can add display advertising in the programme brochure.

For general information about putting a show into Bath Fringe see our website, this page www.bathfringe.co.uk/about-the-fringe/putting-a-show-into-bath-fringe/
For a more detailed checklist of what you need to do, a more comprehensive guide for artists is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gsOVFjNf9n7uIK5Hzbw40GKsuI55vW0zphzvdbfHXbU/edit?usp=sharing
If you’re a new Fringe venue, there’s a similar guide for you here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15k9s3vTCRsG0kN2pGyrvTBvK-3CMaBMKrfMXaMhY-X4/edit?usp=sharing
Both of these will be updated as appropriate.

If your show doesn’t yet have a venue, there are still suitable spaces for hire, although some of the traditionally ‘best’ venues are already booked [in some cases months ago]. See our comprehensive list here www.bathfringe.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/BATH-FRINGE-VENUES-LIST-2023-in-progress.pdf
or via the Fringe Website ‘Links & Downloads’ page.

Our 2023 artwork will shortly be announced. It’s great.

If what you do fits better with Visual/Plastic/Conceptual/Live/Digital/Video Arts, you might like to check out the application process to our friends Fringe Arts Bath, whose festival runs concurrently. There is no need to be in both programmes. www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/

Bath Fringe 2023 – Open Meeting – Tuesday January 24, 6pm

Steve
It’s time for the annual Bath Fringe Open Meeting.
This is mostly intended for people wanting to put a show on for the first time; maybe also if you’re drastically changing what you’re going to do from previously, if you’re looking for collaborators, if you’re still looking for a direction or inspiration. Of course if you’re clued-up & confident and want to tell us all about why, it’s very pleasant & positive to hear about that too!
Approximately at the same time we ought to have ready an updated Bath venues guide, and the application procedure for Fringe 2023 (we’re not expecting those to be greatly different from last time round) – but it’s not necessary to come to the meeting to get that info: you may even already have heard from us, and if not, EMail wendy@bathfringe.co.uk and she will fill you in with everything you need to know when it’s ready. As a rough outline, the festival runs Friday May 26 – Sunday June 11, and the programme deadline is likely to be in early March [TBC]. We will also put another mailing & posts around when that information is available.If you’re from way out of town and don’t fancy an evening in our favourite pub (our office is next door) you can also EMail us and get all the info & a discussion of what you need to know and do.
Everybody is welcome, but the meeting is mostly intended for performers & producers: if you want to volunteer for the Fringe there will be a call-out later in the year, but you’re welcome to come and say hello; if you’re a new or old venue and want to chat with us or with other experienced venues, EMail us and we’ll see if there’s demand to set up a venues meeting too, or we can chat anyway.
This is – for want of a better term – the Performing Arts part of the Fringe. If what you do is happier with a description like visual, plastic, conceptual, ‘live’, online/digital art or moving image, you might be better talking first to our friends over at FAB Fringe Arts Bath. We expect some of FAB to be at the meeting too but it may be a better use of your time to be directly in touch with them.

Rainbow Steel Band playing Sunday

Steve

We noticed this and are happy to pass on the news: the Rainbow Steel Band are playing for free in Bath on Sunday afternoon [12th June]. It’s nothing directly to do with us, but we’re pleased because it’s one of the things we wanted to to with one of the grants we didn’t get ;-{ this summer [us & The Percy Centre] and maybe we just strengthened the idea…
The RSB are a Bath musical legend and institution, who have passed their music on to hundreds and entertained tens of thousands. They’re one of the oldest and best respected bands in the country [FACT!] and among the small number of expert tuners of the steel pans. They’re from Bath, and we are proud to call them fellow citizens!
www.welcometobath.co.uk/event/summer-sundays-rainbow-steel-band/
www.rainbowsteel.co.uk/

Cancelled & Postponed Shows

Steve

Some of these are corona related – it’s still around, people, be careful!

Friday June 10, DIVA NIGHT, Widcombe Social – Postponed to September 16th
Friday June 10, CLYVE, Burdall’s Yard, CANCELLED
Saturday June 11, RUSHTON / COPLAND, The Rondo, CANCELLED
Sunday June 12, 20:20 VISION UNBOUND – Sunday Performance cancelled, rest still happening

Fringe programme out now!

Steve

We’re spreading them round the city as we speak, and will be getting out to the surrounding area as soon as we can!
The search functions on this website now work, we will be adding to the functionality and linking as we go.
The ace cover art is by Meg Napper

FRINGE 2022 OPEN MEETING
 Monday January 24, 6pm, online

Steve

Due to the continuing problems with more transmissable virus variants, we thought it was probably better to put this meeting online than to squeeze you all into a room somewhere. We prefer meeting you face-to-face but we don’t want to put people off at this difficult point as we all 
re-emerge into the social world.
For the usual security reasons we’d prefer to send out the log-in only to people who request it. If you’re interested in the meeting, there’s a google form here to sign up to: we’ll be sending out links on the day (also via our Facebook page, if you’d prefer).

This meeting is open to anyone who wants to talk about Fringe 2022, and usually attracts some venue representatives (but never all) and experienced artist companies who might have useful advice or collaborative possibilities, but it is specifically intended as an introduction for those who haven’t run events with us before. 
If you think you know the score already, that’s fine, EMail us to be sent information as it becomes ready, including this year’s venue list and anything we know at this point about deadlines. There are advice pages and links here on the Fringe website, look under ‘Get Involved’ on the menus listed at the top of the page, underneath the main title. Some of the information needs updating, but we don’t think any of it is too misleading as long as you take note that we haven’t run a full festival for 2 years, and that the situation with some well-known venues, especially theatres, will have changed.

If what you do is more like a live art performance, installation or exhibition, it might be more suitable to enter the festival via the FAB Visual Arts Fringe. This runs at the same time and we’re great collaborative mates, but it has its own publicity as well as our shared programme, and its own application process. Go over to www.fringeartsbath.co.uk to find out more.
Bedlam Fair street festival and associated programmes are not yet in motion, we’re waiting for a grant to be confirmed, and we will circulate information about those when the processes and deadlines are available.

Here’s that sign-up link again: https://forms.gle/CqxyS1sfcWtmwTBWA

Arts Workshop Book is out!

Steve

The book of the exhibition of the film of the lifestyle of Bath Arts Workshop is finally on sale!
And – like the exhibition – it’s utterly fascinating stuff, and a good indication of how – we can see now – Bath was ahead of the curve thanks to this bunch of scruffy ne’er-do-wells (except they did do well).
Go here to read more (it’s entertaining too), here to see a video of the launch with the authors and friends, or go straight here to buy one from those nice people at Tangent Books .

This Is Not A Shop – 5 Broad Street

Steve
empty shop
an empty shop we’re about to start filling with art

Bath Fringe is pleased to announce an extension to our summer programme.
With a grant from Arts Council England and invaluable assistance from B&NES council, we will be running a month – and maybe more – of arts and happenings: exhibitions, performances, installations, in a city centre shop, 5 Broad Street [Bath BA1 5LJ].
The idea is to make something that is fun to look at and drop into, that showcases local and locally-linked contemporary professional artists, and is both accessible and innovative.

From midweek to weekend, daytimes and some evenings, you’ll find something different to see (and sometimes even to do or be in) in our shop or on display through the windows. The programme is being assembled by Bath Fringe & Fringe Arts Bath with local arts charity Streats Ltd.
We’re developing it as we speak, and details will be appearing on www.fringeartsbath.co.uk and www.bathfringe.co.uk from this week – events start imminently! Local, regional, national-level and even international artists already involved!
Artists: there is at least one open call exhibition in planning and other opportunities to pitch us an idea if you’re quick…

Bedlam 2020 on film

Steve

As the only IRL event we managed in 2020, this certainly deserves your attention!
The usual top footage from Mallabar Films, in short (trailer) version and long – the latter longer than usual because conditions permitted following more of the pieces than is usually the case.
This event and all the artists were supported by a project grant from Arts Council England Lottery Fund – they had done a hefty distanced & online workshopping/preparation programme beforehand, with mentors Gwen, Paschale & Amy, concentrating in particular on how can we do this in a distanced context? Answer – really well!