What is Onsite anyway?

“The site is a place where a piece should be but isn’t.” - Robert Smithson, Artist

Fringe Onsite is a brand new project in collaboration with The Only Animal that is helping 13 Fringe artists create and develop their own site-specific work for the Fringe. Over the course of six months, the artists in the Onsite program work intensively with the Only Animal’s Producing Artistic Director, Kendra Fanconi, to embrace every nook and cranny of Granville Island and bring the space to life for the Fringe in September.

The Vancouver Fringe’s history of site-specific work began in 1997 with Theatre SKAM’s production of Louis and Dave which took place in the parking lot of The Cultch in a 1978 Plymouth Volare. (The artists joked that they were the only venue with coat check, since they placed audience members’ coats and bags in the trunk before escorting them into the back seat of the car.)

In 2010 the Fringe included five site-specific shows including performances that took place on a fire escape, on the back of a bicycle, and even in an artist’s apartment. This year there are 17 site-specific shows, 13 of which have been developed through Fringe Onsite. These shows will be taking place in alleys, on boats, under docks and in other surprising locations.

The artists will be blogging here about their shows, the program, and the process of creating, so check back often!