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District Fringe organizers present new Van Ness festival to commission
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Summary
Organizers of the District Fringe festival described a rapid, community‑led launch in Van Ness to preserve opportunities for emerging producers after the Capital Fringe Festival shifted its model.
Karen Lang, founder of Pinky Swear Productions and one of three leaders of the newly formed District Fringe festival, presented the project to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities on July 21.
Lang said the festival was put together in roughly three months after the Capital Fringe Festival shifted away from producing an annual summer festival, and that the new festival brings together small theater leaders including Aubrey O'Connor of NUSAS and Tracy Erbacher of Theatre Prometheus. She said the University of the District of Columbia and Van Ness Main Street had provided partnerships and venues.
“NUSAS is our fiscal umbrella this year. And one of the ways that they've been able to work with the festival is through their DCCAH grant, for which we are profoundly grateful,” Lang said, referencing the commission’s grant support. She said the festival has involved more than 100 artists, sold thousands of tickets, provided house management staff and created traffic and partnerships with local businesses.
Lang said the organizers hope the festival becomes a predictable, recurring summer event and that they are working to deepen ties with UDC and Van Ness Main Street to secure more stable performance space for emerging artists. The presentation was informational; the commission did not take a funding action during the meeting.
