2023 fringe festival lottery

SO YOU WANT TO DO A FRINGE SHOW… Yay! We’re here to help make that happen — whether this is your first time producing or if you’ve been doing it for years. We believe Fringe is for everyone, which is why we continue to take steps to remove barriers to participation. Get in touch if you need special accommodations, disability services, language interpreters or anything else. We’re here to make Fringe work for you. Please take a moment to read through ALL the instructions before you apply, including the description of the tiers and lottery options.

There are a few new policies and opportunities in 2023. Please keep reading for more info about the application process, provisions, and tier structures. You can view the 2023 Producer Handbook (opens in new tab) or download a PDF here:

2023 Producer Handbook NOTE! Additional information regarding Independent Productions (aka B.Y.O.V. or Bring Your Own Venue or Site Specific Shows) will be posted in February. Registration for IP shows opens March 1.

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN DECEMBER 1, 2022 – FEBRUARY 15, 2023 The deadline to apply is February 15, 2023. The lottery will be held publicly on the evening of February 27, 2023. There are three lotteries – general, BIPOC, and touring. Please apply to any of the lotteries that best suit you. You may apply more than once, but you may only apply once per tier (bronze, silver, gold, or platnimum). Duplicate applications for the same producer/company within the same tier will be rejected without refund.

NOTE! All participants in the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival are automatically eligible to participate in the 2023 Fringe Hangover online festival (September 4-14, 2023).

Producer Funding Opportunities! Be sure to check out our various opportunities for producer funding where you can produce in the festival at no up front cost or no cost at all!

Multi-tier Applications! There are four venue tiers—based on venue capacity—to which artists can apply. One application is accepted per company/producer per tier. A company/producer may apply to multiple tiers, but can only produce one show in the festival. If your show is randomly selected in multiple tiers during the lottery, you will be asked to choose ONE tier.

A fee for each application is due at submission. NEW! If you have no preference on venue size and you just want to make sure you are in the festival, you can apply to all four tiers at a discounted price. Fees are graduated based on application date (see below).

December 1 – 31: $30 per tier application / $100 to apply to all tiers January 1 – 31: $35 per tier application / $120 to apply to all tiers February 1 – 15:$40 per tier application / $140 to apply to all tiers BIPOC Lottery! (formerly Equity Lottery) In our efforts expand our reach, fight against injustices, and become a more welcoming and equitable place for everyone to enjoy the performing arts, Fringe introduced the BIPOC Lottery in 2022. BIPOC producers, writers, directors, and choreographers are encouraged to apply in this category for an opportunity to be one of the first 10% of Festival participants chosen in 2023. Artists not selected from this lottery will have a second chance to be selected in the general lottery. Applications in this lottery are pay-what-you-will.

Touring Artist Initiative! Minnesota Fringe loves connecting with minds on a global scale. We’re throwing down the welcome mat for those who bring fresh perspectives and talent into our vibrant metro home by reserving 10% of Minnesota Fringe Festival slots selected specifically for national, international, and Minnesotan artists coming from outside the 11-county metro area. Artists not selected from this lottery will have a second chance to be selected in the general lottery. A fee of $30 is due at submission.

THE BASICS: TIME AND MONEY All producers must be available for:

A scheduled, mandatory producer meeting between May 22 – 26, 2023 A scheduled, mandatory technical rehearsal between July 30 – August 2, 2023 At least 8 FULL days of the Fringe Festival, August 3-13, 2023 Producer fees to participate in the festival range from $450 to $675, dependent on which Tier (based on venue capacity) you are performing in. Producer fees for artists selected in the lottery are due March 10, 2023.

Producer Funding Opportunities! As our way of championing risk and lowering barriers for more producers, we offer producer funding opportunities to either defer or waive fees for selected producers! This initiative is stewarded by the Minnesota Fringe Artist Committee. More information on this initiative can be found on our Producer Funding Opportunities page. Applications for all funding opportunities open in December.

WHAT YOU GET Five scheduled performances (no longer than 60 minutes each) Guaranteed 70% of your box office receipts. Receipts include sales to your show of single-tickets at full price ($15 advance / $16 at the door), discounted tickets ($14 or $12), or VIP / child tickets ($10). Your box office total does not include the service fee, which Fringe uses to cover ticket processing charges. A professional-grade, well-equipped accessible venue (with additional wheelchair access or other accommodations for artists, available by request). Professional technicians to run the board for your show, including one lighting designer to set cues Ticket sales (advanced and in-person), box office staff and front-of-house services Fringe Producers’ Handbook—your comprehensive guide to the festival Access to workshops and one-on-one help sessions Drawings and photos of your Fringe managed venue Customizable page for your show on our website Publicity distribution to major press outlets and regional producers/presenters Artist passes for you and your cast to see festival shows for free WHAT YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR Finding or creating a script; acquiring any necessary rights or permissions for existing scripts/music Arranging/contracting actors and director Costumes, props, sound cues and set pieces Providing marketing language (including photos or graphis, appropriate age and genre specifics, and accurate descriptions of your show) to help promote your show on the Fringe website Actively marketing your show Arranging necessary visas and work permits if coming from outside the United States Abiding by the Fringe rules and deadlines Presence at all mandatory meetings, technical rehearsal, and shows