2023 Beyond the Box

Beyond the Box, a collaboration between Minnesota Fringe, Vibrant and Safe Downtown and the Downtown Improvement District, is an artist opportunity in public, outdoor performance.

Fringe is seeking producers and performing artists in a variety of genres to present their work outdoors for the general public at Xcel Energy Plaza on Nicollet Avenue. Artists of any genre (dance, puppetry, spoken word, musical theater, clowning, etc.) are encouraged to apply with original and/or newly developed work. Six total performances (30-50 minutes each) from three selected artists (2 performances per artist) will be selected to engage the diverse audiences of downtown Minneapolis and celebrate the reanimation, renewal, and changing relationship to public spaces. 

Summer 2023 will be the fourth year of this partnership between Minnesota Fringe and the Downtown Improvement District with collective goals to:

• Cultivate artists’ skillset in nontraditional, outdoor performing arts
• Encourage a positive, exchange-oriented environment for artistic engagement through usage of peer-learning relationships
• Create a low threshold for participation by artists, including provision of rehearsal space, stipends, media documentation, and marketing 
• Cultivate adventurous work with avenues for artist-audience connectivity that is often perceived as less commercially viable in for-profit contexts with intentional inclusion of early-career and burgeoning artists alongside established artists to ensure a wide range of genres, disciplines and voices (including historically marginalized groups) are represented
• Give audiences free and accessible opportunities to engage the performing arts in an impactful way while in a shared, public space

Each selected artist/company will receive a $2,000 development and performance fee plus up to $400 each for rehearsal space reimbursement. Preference will be given to artists/companies who contribute to advancing social equity and promote inclusive engagement. Applications close March 15. Selected artists will be notified on April 3. Specific performance dates and times are: June 14, June 21, June 28, July 5, July 12, and July 19 at Noon.

Selected Artist/Company goals and responsibilities will include:

• Creating and/or adapting a performing arts piece of ~30-50 minutes
• Attend mandatory venue visit during the week of April 24, date/time TBD
• Communicating with organizers regarding reimbursement of rehearsal space, learning outcomes, and partner engagement
• Providing an individual or organizational W9 so that payment can be made
• Collaboratively work with designated sound technician
• Participate in a pre- and post-program survey

Apply to Beyond the Box