Every summer artists perform at Fringe (边缘) Festivals around the world. Fringe Festivals are a celebration of strange art. They have all kinds of performers—from dancers, musicians and actors to everything in between. The shows give artists a chance to create unusual art. For festival goers, each show is a time to experience something different.
The first Fringe Festival was held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947. That was also the year of the first Edinburgh International Festival. Artists from around the world traveled to Scotland for the Edinburgh International Festival. They performed at arts centers throughout the city. Eight local theater companies did not receive an invitation, however. In response, they performed at smaller spaces around Edinburgh. These artists performed wherever they could, including churches and even on the street. They started their own cultural event and named it the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
What started as an alternative to the mainstream has now become the world's largest arts festival. Today, there are hundreds of Fringe Festivals taking place around the world. The one in Washington, D.C., called the Capital Fringe Festival, is in its tenth year. It was held in the month of July.
Julianne Brienza founded the Capital Fringe Festival. She went to a school for the performing arts, but now sees herself mainly as an organizer of the festival. Brienza believes that fringe performance art is special and can have a powerful effect.
The Capital Fringe Festival takes place in different locations throughout the D. C. area. Some performances happen in traditional theaters. Others happen in unusual settings like old, empty buildings or stores after business hours are over.
Brienza says the purpose of Fringe festivals is to explore the limits of art in unique environments. Since 2006, the event has made more than $1. 7 million. It is the second largest Fringe Festival in the U. S. and its popularity has grown every year. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues throughout the month of August.
