Durham FRINGE: Setting the City as the Stage
In fall 2026, as a pillar of Carolina Theatre of Durham’s Centennial celebration, downtown Durham will become the stage. Durham FRINGE, presented by the Carolina Theatre, is a bold new 10-day festival (October 30–November 8, 2026) where artists will transform storefronts, businesses, alleyways and green spaces. The festival fuels both artistic innovation and downtown economic growth, celebrating Durham as a city where creativity and entrepreneurship thrive.
Durham artists working in theater, dance, music, visual art, and the literary arts will be invited to create new, experimental, and accessible works that audiences can see nowhere else but Durham. From bars to bookstores, to rooftops and alleyways, audiences will be invited inside and outside to experience Durham in a completely new way.
Durham FRINGE celebrates the spirit of artistic risk, community collaboration, and the local economy. Artists are invited to apply for project support (ranging from $500–$10,000) and work directly with businesses and local technical production companies to produce their performances or installations. With advertising and ticketing services through the Carolina Theatre, artists, businesses, and audiences will benefit from centralized communication and festival navigation.
Whether you’re an artist ready to experiment, a business eager to connect, or an audience member craving something fresh—Durham FRINGE is your invitation to imagine, play and belong.
Entertainment Across the City
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Find answers to common questions for artists and businesses participating in Durham FRINGE. We’ll continue updating this page as more information becomes available.
What is the Durham FRINGE Festival?
Durham FRINGE is a 10-day festival igniting downtown Durham with adventurous, experimental performances and installations by Durham artists across disciplines. Presented by the Carolina Theatre of Durham, the city will become the stage as artists transform storefronts, businesses, alleyways and green spaces. The festival fuels both artistic innovation and downtown economic growth, celebrating Durham as a city where creativity and entrepreneurship thrive.
Durham FRINGE Festival is performance-based, low-tech, experimental, eclectic, high quality in terms of craft yet “scrappy” in terms of creative uses of materials and content. Previous works, excerpts, or new works are encouraged to be proposed in the Artist Application. This is the pilot year for Durham FRINGE, meaning that this is the first time this festival has been produced. The intention is that this festival becomes an annual festival in Durham
What are the dates of the Durham FRINGE Festival?
The dates of the festival itself are Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Performances do not have to occur for the entire duration of the festival. Specific dates for each artist’s / artist collectives’ work will be worked out between the artist and venue availability
Where will Durham FRINGE Festival occur?
For this pilot year, the festival footprint will be downtown Durham, North Carolina. Businesses, performing arts venues and outdoor spaces will be activated throughout downtown. A list of locations as well as a festival map and daily schedule will be provided ahead of registrations and tickets becoming available to the public.
How do I apply as an artist, or on behalf of my team of artists?
In the Artist Application, artists are asked to share basic information (run-time, desired performance dates and times, spatial and technical features needed, number of performers, etc.) about the proposed work as well as a description. Following the application deadline, festival producers will then match artist’s accepted proposals and venue locations that are based on feasibility and synergy; producers will ensure that the matches are mutually agreeable to both artists and venues.
In the description, artists are also asked to share information about the number of audience members the work is fit for (per performance) and what type of venue the work is intended to be performed in (gallery, bar and/or restaurant, retail, outdoor, traditional performing arts venue, etc.). We’ll also ask for a few images and/or short videos that show the artist’s creative practice, or previous performances or installations. Artists can think of this section as providing a glimpse into their world, not a full portfolio, per se. If artists are a part of a group, the ‘lead’ artist will fill out the application on behalf of the group.
What exactly am I applying for?
When Durham-based (living/working) artists apply to the Durham FRINGE Festival, they are applying for the chance to bring their imaginative vision to life with real support. Selected artists receive funding ranging from $500 to $10,000, plus inclusion in the festival-wide advertising campaign that amplifies their work across Durham and beyond.
If my work gets into the festival, will I get to choose my performance venue?
Artist proposals that are accepted into this pilot year of Durham FRINGE Festival will be matched with performance locations / venues based on their spatial needs, technical requirements as well as synergy with desired performance dates, times, and genre feasibility. During the application review process, festival producers will be in conversation with artists and venues to ensure that the matching is agreeable to all parties ahead of final confirmation.
If I don’t know which venue I might be matched with, what venue rental fee should I notate on my proposed budget?
Some venues will charge a rental fee, and some will not charge a rental fee based on the business’s operational structure. In the Fringe Budget Template, artists can factor in the average venue rental price they have paid at Durham arts venues in the last five years. If not applicable, or if that data is too broad for the artist, it is acceptable for the artist to state in their budget that they do not have enough data to name a rental fee expense at this stage. The submitted budget should share a realistic guesstimation of expenses for the work being proposed. As the producers are in conversations with artists and venues during the review process about potential matching, the artists’ budget may shift. Final confirmation will take these variables into account, so artists should not worry about not knowing if the venue they will be placed in has a rental fee or not. The Budget Template is for the festival producers and the presenter to get a sense of scope and scale of the work being proposed.
Do I have to sell tickets to my performance(s)?
No, artists will not be required to sell tickets; however, all Durham FRINGE Festival performances will at least require registration so that venue / performance site capacity limits can be ensured. All registration and ticketing services will be centralized through Carolina Theatre of Durham’s Barnes Box Office. If an artist’s proposal is accepted and only able to be partially funded, selling tickets is another way that artists can recover their costs. If an artist sells tickets to their performance at their matched venue, producers will work with the artists to set their ticket prices where they are helpful to the artist’s budget yet still accessible to audiences. Artists will get to keep their ticket revenue and will receive the payment after festival closeout which may take at least 30 days.
7.5% NC Entertainment tax and ticketing processing fees will be charged to each audience member on top of the base ticket price.
Do I have to use and/or adhere to the technical production policies of the presenter? How will technical production aspects work for Durham FRINGE Festival performances?
Durham FRINGE Festival will work with three local technical production companies outside of the Carolina Theatre of Durham to provide technical support as needed to participating venues that do not already have in-house technical support in terms of equipment and labor. These production companies will each have a set of venues that they will support for the duration of the festival. They will work with artists and venues to find the most manageable technical solutions to the artistic vision. Like rental fees for venues in relation to their budget proposal, artists should consider technical production fees that they have previously incurred with their work to list a guesstimated amount in their festival budget. If not applicable, or if that data is too broad for the artist, it is acceptable for the artist to state in their budget that they do not have enough data to name a technical production fee expense at this stage. Final confirmation will take these variables into account, so artists should not worry about not knowing an exact technical production fee. The Budget Template is for the festival producers and the presenter to get a sense of scope and scale of the work being proposed.
What will my responsibility be as an artist / artist collective?
Participating artists are responsible for self-producing their vision in a manageable way in collaboration with the venue and production company of the venue, as applicable. Artists are also responsible for adhering to designated festival deadlines for advertising and registration or ticketing purposes. Additionally, artists are responsible for identifying a manageable budget for their work in the festival. Artists should also be prepared to manage their own off-site rehearsals, wardrobe, props or installations. In terms of advertising festival performances, artists will be asked to share at least their respective festival performance information with their networks.
To assist artists and business owners with advancing the planning for their respective performances, the producers will hold monthly “office hours” with logistical themes relevant to the lead up to the festival. More information about these office hours will be provided to artists in a final confirmation letter.
What will be the responsibility of the venue?
Venues are responsible for collaborating with the artist(s) and production company, as applicable, to provide the facility as agreed upon with festival producers. Like the artists, participating venues will play an active role in the ongoing planning process and will be encouraged to also join the monthly “office hours” with festival producers and fellow collaborators to keep communication flowing and creativity thriving. Businesses will also be asked to share at least their respective festival performance information with their networks.
Are artists required to have insurance?
Yes. Artists will be required to provide Event Insurance. Presenter, Carolina Theatre of Durham, will provide insurance coverage to artists who do not already have coverage. The cost of insurance should be included in the artist’s proposed budget (good measure to include up to $150 per event per location, though could end up being a lower cost depending upon several factors). The presenter will provide the Certificate of Insurance to the artist, and the artist will then present to the business. In terms of insurance for the artwork itself (sculpture, for example), the artist is responsible for sourcing and paying for that coverage, if necessary.
What is the eligibility and selection criteria for artist proposals?
The Durham FRINGE Festival is open to artists living or working in Durham across all disciplines—performing, literary, and visual arts. Artists will need to have previous experience with self-producing their work. Proposed performances should be low-tech, experimental, eclectic, high quality in terms of craft yet “scrappy” in terms of creative uses of materials and content. Previous works, excerpts, or new works are encouraged to be proposed in the Artist Application. When reviewing proposals, festival producers and festival jury will be looking for performance feasibility, connectivity to Durham, inclusivity, and of course, creativity.
What is the submission process?
Applications are now closed
Applications close Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
What is the timeline of the application process and arc of planning?
Applications open on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Applications close on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Artists and businesses will be presented with the festival match proposals from the presenter in mid-May.
Notifications of final selections will go out to artists and businesses at the end of May.
Monthly advancing meetings (June–October 2026).
Advertising materials TBD (summer 2026).
The festival itself is Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 8, 2026.
How does the funding process work?
To spread the festival budget as wide as possible, the festival producers and festival jury will work to partially or fully fund proposals based on the selection criteria. The funding distribution timeline will be communicated to artists in the final selection letter. Any funds retained through ticket sales will be sent to the respective artists following settlement of the festival (at least 30 days following the last day of the festival).
Who do I contact with questions along the way?
Please send inquiries to [email protected].
What is the Durham FRINGE Festival?
Durham FRINGE is a 10-day festival igniting downtown Durham with adventurous, experimental performances and installations by Durham artists across disciplines. Presented by the Carolina Theatre of Durham, the city will become the stage as artists transform storefronts, businesses, alleyways and green spaces. The festival fuels both artistic innovation and downtown economic growth, celebrating Durham as a city where creativity and entrepreneurship thrive.
What are the dates of the Durham FRINGE Festival?
The dates of the festival itself are Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 8, 2026.
[Important Note: Performances and/or installations do not have to occur for the entire duration of the festival. Specific dates for each artist’s / artist collectives’ work will be decided between the artist and venue, business, or respective location of the proposed work.]How do downtown businesses get involved?
Downtown businesses interested in participating in Durham FRINGE can connect directly with the festival producers at the Carolina Theatre to express their interest and learn more about partnership opportunities. We ask that businesses share their interest so we can match them with artists and plan effectively. In addition to receiving inquiries, Carolina Theatre producers will reach out to downtown venues, storefronts, and organizations throughout the fall and winter to gauge interest, discuss capacity, and explore how each space might come alive during the festival.
How will this impact my daily operations as a business?
Durham FRINGE is designed to complement—not disrupt—your day-to-day operations. Participating businesses will have full control over what types of artistic projects they’re open to hosting and when. Festival producers will provide a brief survey so each business can outline preferred genres, audience capacity, and whether activities should take place during, before, or after normal business hours. Using this information, we will match you only with artists whose work fits naturally within your operational flow. Our goal is for every business to feel confident that participation enhances their space while respecting their boundaries and needs.
How does the technical or installation process work?
Each project’s technical needs will be coordinated collaboratively to ensure a smooth experience for businesses. Festival producers will provide artists with a list of trusted technical production companies and art handlers they can hire directly, based on what a business already has in-house and what they’re open to accommodating. Through the business survey, you’ll be able to outline any specifications or limitations of your space so we can accurately match you with artists and project types. All load-in, installation, and load-out timelines will be planned jointly among the business, artists, technicians, and festival producers to ensure minimal disruption and a seamless process.
What is my financial commitment as a business?
Participating businesses are not required—or expected—to provide any direct financial support for the artistic project, installation, or technical needs beyond what already exists in their space, unless they choose to contribute. Artists will receive festival stipends to cover their creative labor, materials, rehearsals, costuming, and technical services. The primary contributions we ask of businesses is the in-kind use of their venue space during the festival as well as promotional collaboration in marketing the event to their audiences through social media, website and print materials as applicable. Carolina Theatre producers will provide an acknowledgment letter for the in-kind donation for business tax records.
How much time will I have to devote to it?
Planning for Durham FRINGE is designed to be organized and manageable for businesses. Once paired, each business and artist team will set a recurring monthly meeting—typically no more than an hour—to ensure progress stays on track. During these check-ins, artists will share updates on technical planning, ticketing needs, any set or installation elements, and the run-of-show details outlining load-in, performance or installation timing, and load-out. These regular touchpoints help keep communication clear and minimize surprises, while keeping the time commitment for businesses both reasonable and predictable.
How will ticketing work? Will businesses be responsible for that aspect?
The Carolina Theatre of Durham will manage all ticketing and registration for Durham FRINGE, working closely with each artist and business to determine what makes the most sense for the project and venue. Depending on the capacity, format, and style of the performance or installation, events may require formal tickets or simply advance registration—but businesses will not be responsible for building or administering the system. Decisions around whether to charge for tickets will be made collaboratively, and there is no requirement to set a specific price point. Any door sales collected during the festival will be distributed to the artists after the event concludes.
What is the submission process?
Applications are now closed
What is the timeline of the application process and arc of planning?
The Durham FRINGE Festival follows a yearlong arc of creative planning and collaboration leading up to the big event. Selected artists will receive a detailed calendar with all planning milestones and deadlines to help keep everything on track.
Monthly advancing meetings where artists, businesses, and producers come together to support the shaping of each project’s success will be announced at a later date.
The festival itself is Friday, October 30, through Sunday, November 8, 2026
Who do I contact with questions along the way?
Email [email protected] with your questions.
