The Baltic Nordic Fringe Network (BNFN) aims to simplify systems and provide touring opportunities for artists applying to one or more of the Fringe festivals in the Baltic Nordic region.

The festivals have one thing in common: they aim to elevate the local through the global to offer the audience unique experiences outside the traditional, to push boundaries and promote artistic innovation and bravery.

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WHY A NETWORK?

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Since the humble launch of the Stockholm Fringe Festival (STOFF) in 2010, participating artists have expressed the desire to combine their “Stoffholm” visit with additional tour dates in the Nordic region. Until now, a touring theatre network in the Nordic region had not existed.

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WHO IS BEHIND IT?

 

• In 2016, team Stockholm Fringe Festival (STOFF) created the Nordic Fringe Network together with its younger sister festivals Gothenburg Fringe Festival and Bergen Fringe Festival.

• In 2018 Lahti Fringe Festival (Finland) joined our global community, followed FINFRINGE (Åbo/Finland) in 2019. 

• Reykjavík Fringe Festival’s pilot edition took place in July 2018

• Zagare Fringe Festival (Lithuania)  joined the network in late 2018.

• In 2019 CPH STAGE(Copenhagen/Denmark) joined the network as a partner. The festival had already existed for many years. 

• Tallinn Fringe Festival joined the network in 2020.

• Oslo Fringe Festival & Trondheim Fringe Festival & Tranås at the Fringe are our youngest family members!

• In 2023, the network rebranded from the Nordic to the Baltic Nordic Fringe Network (BNFN) to truly reflect all the network member festivals. 

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1 NETWORK /  7 COUNTRIES / 11  UNIQUE FESTIVALS  

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• All festivals will have their own digital and/or printed programme brochures.

• All festivals will have separate administrative bodies, meaning you will still have to submit your programme copy and visuals separately.

• Venue conditions and festival formats are also going to vary between the different festivals.

• The admin fee involved will vary from location to location.

• In any given year, approximately 7 festivals are actively taking part in the join artist call. The remaining festivals have their own artist intake and/or have hiatus year, like Zagare Fringe, which usually runs every 2nd year. 

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​FESTIVALS THAT TAKE PART IN THE BNFN 2024 TOURING CIRCUIT

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• Finfringe Festival 8th May - 12th May

• Bergen Fringe Festival 1st June

• Reykjavík Fringe Festival 17th June to 23rd June

• Tranås at the Fringe 29th June - 6th July

• Stockholm Fringe Festival (#STOFF2024) 26th of Aug - Sept 1st

• Gothenburg Fringe 30th Aug - 8th Sept

• Oslo Fringe 4th - 8th Sept

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NETWORK BENEFITS

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The benefits of synchronising all Baltic Nordic Fringe festival initiatives go hand in hand with our “many little streams create a river” approach to festival management.

Working together will not only create a stronger and bigger Fringe movement in the Nordic region but also offer an attractive touring opportunity to local and global artists.

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• Audiences will be offered high-quality acts from across the globe.

• New work will reach a new and wider audience.

• Artists will be able to make their visit to the Nordic region more sustainable and economical.

• Overseas cultural institutes and embassy culture departments will be able to join forces with their sister branches in other Nordic countries to tour/support artists from their regions.

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