BorderLight Festival

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About

BorderLight brings thousands of audience members to downtown Cleveland to experience affordable, surprising performances from across the theatrical spectrum. Some performances are outside and free, while others are staged in novel spaces. By making theatre more accessible, BorderLight engages Clevelanders and visitors with the city and brings life to its streets. In turn, this creates long-term cultural, social, and economic impacts to benefit our region.

BorderLight is managed by a dedicated board of directors and a small year-round staff that at festival time grows to include 35 additional seasonal hires, event and marketing specialists, and 50 incredible volunteers.

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Submission Requirements

The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival is a juried festival, meaning all submissions undergo a review process. Artists must present their work or fully developed concept during a short virtual or in-person adjudication session in October or November. Festival staff will notify applicants of their acceptance in December.

Performances can take various forms, including short pieces (5-15 minutes) featured in a showcase or as a Random Act of Fringe, mid-length works (20-40 minutes) that may be paired with another show, and full-length productions (45-60 minutes) presented as ticketed theater-style events. Site-specific performances of any length are also welcome, offering unconventional staging opportunities. Additionally, a short film category is available for works under 20 minutes, which will be screened at the Grail Moviehouse on March 17, 2025.

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Finances

The festival aims to make participation accessible by keeping submission and production fees low. Artists receive 50% of their ticket sales and are provided with support services, including professional sound and lighting, box office management, and promotional efforts through social media and local publications.

Participants also benefit from artist passes that grant stand-by access to most festival shows, four complimentary tickets to their own performance, and inclusion in festival marketing materials. In most cases, artists will also receive professional photographs of their performances for promotional use.

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Volunteer Information

Volunteers are essential to the success of the festival and a great way to get involved in the excitement of BorderLight. Opportunities are available in several key areas, including front-of-house roles such as greeters, program distribution, and audience ambassadors. Volunteers can also join the street team to help with flyering and promotional efforts or assist with wayfinding, providing front-line audience engagement and guidance. Special event support roles are also available for those interested in helping behind the scenes.

Volunteers enjoy perks such as complimentary tickets, an exclusive BorderLight t-shirt, and access to select special events. Becoming a volunteer also means joining a vibrant community and earning rockstar status among Team BorderLight.

Please note that volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.