Organizers of the 2025 Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) are expanding the festival’s canvas to include the work of visual artists.
NIFF has announced it is opening the fringe festival’s roster to submissions from Indigenous visual artists this year.
With its move from Trent University to the Peterborough Theatre Guild, NIFF — considered to be the only Indigenous fringe festival in the world — will have access to a space that is regularly used for art exhibits. Organizers recognized an opportunity to bring Indigenous visual art to NIFF in addition to the line-up of performing artists.
“Our hope is that we will encourage Indigenous artists who may not have exhibited before, or who have new work to show, to apply,” NIFF’s general manager Lee Bolton told kawarthaNOW.
“As with all things fringe, the selection will be made by lottery, so everyone has an equal chance. We have room for a number of pieces of various sizes and any subject matter suitable for a general public, as long as they are in a format we can hang on a wall.”
Since 2021, NIFF has been bringing Indigenous performing artists to Peterborough. Now, Indigenous visual artists are also invited to apply to exhibit their work via the NIFF website at www.indigenousfringefest.ca.
Selected artists will be invited to hang their work in the public areas of NIFF’s space at the Peterborough Theatre Guild. Each artist may submit several pieces. Applications are now open and will close on March 31.
“Each year at NIFF we showcase Indigenous performance across all genres, and we also provide space for Indigenous vendors to highlight their creations,” NIFF artistic director Joeann Argue said in a media release.
“This year we are excited to expand our offerings to include visual artists, adding yet another layer of Indigenous artistry to the festival.”
NIFF 2025 will feature four days of performances and activities from June 19 to 22 at the Guild’s location at 364 Rogers St. in Peterborough’s East City.
Additional, general information about NIFF is available on the festival’s website. A full schedule, including all special events, family activities and vendors, will be available in April. Ticket sales will start in May.
“There are so many amazing Indigenous visual artists, and adding their work to the amazing performances we get every year will give the people who come to NIFF a deeper and broader experience,” Bolton said about her hopes for the festival overall.
