Review and Update of the Guiding Principals
To continue to support our members and the Fringe movement, the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals is undertaking a comprehensive review of our guiding principles. This is a multi-year assessment process, and to ensure complete transparency as we undergo this critical work, the CAFF Directors have placed the Guiding Principles under review formally. CAFF is committed to ensuring the language evolves with the values of our movement as the Association enters its third decade.
Statement regarding funding cuts in Florida
The Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF) calls on leaders and policymakers to recognize the indispensable value of the arts and to support and invest in these vital cultural institutions. The arts are not a luxury; they are a necessity for a thriving, dynamic, and inclusive society.
Fringe Festivals represent a 42-year tradition of freedom of expression. We are meeting places where experience, perspective, diversity, and passion are explored, uplifted, and celebrated through the transformative power of the arts.
CAFF is a member-driven service organization that nurtures the health of the Fringe festival movement across North America. We represent more than 32 festivals and are part of a network of more than 200 Fringe festivals worldwide.
CAFF stands in unwavering solidarity with our fellow member festivals and artists in Florida. The recent veto of arts funding in Florida, accompanied by statements that mischaracterize our events, deeply concerns us.
Fringe began as a grassroots movement where anyone can be an Artist. We make space for all disciplines of art and all artists, including the out-of-the-ordinary and unconventional. Fringe Festivals are not-for-profit organizations, existing primarily to provide Artists with the tools, resources, and opportunities to share their stories with engaged audiences, fostering a rich cultural economy.
Together, we grow the arts ecology in our communities, across Canada and the United States, and around the world. We create exceptional artistic experiences, build communities, propel artistic careers, and put our cities on the map as destinations and creative engines.
A vibrant, healthy local arts scene is an essential component of every community. Major events like Fringe festivals drive economic impact, create jobs, help tourism thrive, and attract sponsorship investment. In 2023, CAFF festivals returned more than $3.5M back to performing artists in North America.
Arts and culture are fundamental to the health and vibrancy of society. They inspire us, challenge us, and bring us together. Fringe festivals are crucial spaces for marginalized voices and artists to be heard and seen. They contribute to the cultural fabric of our communities and provide an essential service that extends well beyond our collective economic impact.
To our friends and colleagues in Florida: we stand with you. Your work is invaluable, and your voices matter. Together, we will continue to champion the arts and ensure that Fringe festivals remain a vibrant and essential part of our global cultural landscape.
Signed,
The CAFF Board of Directors
Media Inquiries may be emailed to CAFF at president@fringefestivals.com.
Statement regarding the reinstatement of the Nanaimo Fringe Festival – Feb 2024
The Nanaimo Fringe Festival – produced and managed by Pacific Coast Stage Company (PCSC) – has been reinstated as a member of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF). In order to remain as a member in good standing with CAFF, Nanaimo Fringe is working together in restorative collaboration with CAFF and the performing arts community in Nanaimo, particularly the trans and 2SLGBTQ+ community. Positive steps have been taken by Nanaimo Fringe with continued mentorship, guidance, and support from CAFF.
Nanaimo Fringe and CAFF are actively working towards creating and maintaining a safer, more inclusive, and respectful environment for trans and 2SLGBTQ+ Fringe Festival participants. As a member driven arts services organization, CAFF is committed to supporting Nanaimo Fringe in this restorative process to ensure Nanaimo Fringe is operating in alignment with CAFF’s Guiding Principles. The 14th annual Nanaimo Fringe Festival will proceed from August 8-18, 2024.
Any questions should be emailed to CAFF at president@fringefestivals.com and Tamara McCarthy, Artistic Producer of Nanaimo Fringe, at artists@pacificcoaststage.org.
Statement regarding the suspension of the Nanaimo Fringe Festival – Sept 2023
As of September 12, 2023, the membership status of Nanaimo Fringe Festival, presented by Pacific Coast Stage Company (PCSC), has been suspended while it is undergoing a review by the CAFF Executive Committee and its Member Festivals. This action has been taken in response to artist and community feedback and to concerns that were brought to the attention of CAFF.
Concerns were raised to CAFF’s attention about the well-being and safety of Nanaimo Fringe’s participants and artistic community in July 2023. The CAFF Executive Committee engaged in communication with PCSC staff and board of directors to request a plan to ensure a safe space for artists to participate in Nanaimo Fringe Festival which took place in August 2023. Following the close of the Festival, additional reports were made to CAFF that these conditions were not met. Therefore the CAFF Executive elected to give notice of suspension to PCSC as they undergo further investigation. CAFF Executive have requested the PCSC submit a written statement explaining these decisions and their case to be reinstated as a member of CAFF. Upon receipt of the written statement, due process will be followed by the membership to determine how the notice of suspension will evolve.
CAFF has trademarked the use of the word Fringe and Fringe Festivals in Canada in order to give assurances to artists and audiences that the CAFF guiding principles are followed and adhered to by our member Festivals. CAFF and its Member Festivals believe in and are committed to creating safer spaces. There is absolutely zero tolerance for bullying, harassment, discrimination, abuse, threats, and assault at our Festivals, in our theatres/venues, or on our grounds. CAFF is committed to welcoming diverse and marginalized communities into our spaces, and strives to actively oppose marginalization, repression, and oppression within our member festivals, including artists, staff, volunteers, and patrons. The Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals welcomes and supports our trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary community and we support everyone’s human rights and expression of gender. There is no tolerance for transphobic views. The safety of artists, staff, volunteers, and audiences is of the utmost importance to CAFF and its Member Festivals.
As members of this organization and citizens of the world, we recognize that there is an increased need for active allyship for marginalized communities. We acknowledge harm has been caused in our community and we will continue to strive for safer spaces across our North American members.
For any questions, please contact CAFF’s Administrator at cafffringe@gmail.com, who will bring it to the attention of the CAFF Executive and Touring Artist Committee.
2023 CAFF Mid-Year Update – July 2023
The Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF) is a member-driven, volunteer-run, arts service organization that provides help and support to its member Festivals. CAFF and its member Festivals believe in and are committed to creating safer spaces that celebrate creative risk where community thrives. Bullying, harassment, discrimination, abuse, threats, and assault have no place at our Festivals, in our theatres/venues, or on our grounds. We actively oppose marginalization, repression, and oppression. We believe in care and kindness above all else, and we aim to treat everyone with equal respect. We actively support, uplift, and stand by the diverse communities our Fringe Festivals represent and intersect with, including systemically and historically minoritized groups. We proudly and loudly stand against hate.
During the CAFF Conference in November 2022, the Association and its member Festivals felt it timely to re-evaluate who we are as an organization, what it is we stand for, and what values and ideals we represent. We began the immense task of assessment and evaluation —with conscious purpose and intent— of everything we do. We are reviewing and updating our guiding principles to better illustrate the ideals that are most important to and reflective of our members’ values, and determining policies and practices that offer better support to our member Festivals. We will work collectively on strengthening our social and safer spaces policies within our individual Festivals, and ensure clear messaging and effective communication channels are established. The work we are undertaking will take time. We are steadfast in our commitment and aim to have this important work completed by the end of the November 2023 CAFF Conference. The results of this work will then be shared with our community.
Fringe Festivals are meeting places where experience, perspective, diversity, and passion are explored, uplifted, and celebrated through story and art. The broader Fringe community is vibrant, diverse, inclusive, welcoming, and safe.
This is reflective of our guiding principle: “Festivals will promote and model inclusivity, diversity and multiculturalism, and will endeavour to incorporate them into all aspects of our organizations including our boards, staff, and volunteers.” We also recognize and commit to upholding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Section 15 that makes it clear that “every individual in Canada – regardless of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, colour, sex, age or physical or mental disability – is to be treated with the same respect, dignity, and consideration.”
Every day, we strive to better support our diverse community of artists, volunteers, technicians, patrons, and creatives who fringe with us. We continue to work with our member Festivals and the greater Fringe community to foster a respectful environment that celebrates creative ingenuity.
Any questions about CAFF or the work that we do, please reach out to the CAFF Executive Committee at cafffringe@gmail.com.
