SKIRTSAFIRE | March 4 – March 14, 2027 | Here, Because
Be a part of SkirtsAfire 2027! We’re calling artists of all disciplines to submit for several events in our 10 day festival. Apply using the form below!
SkirtsAfire is a growing theatre and multidisciplinary arts festival that features the work of women in conjunction with International Women’s Day, March 4 – March 14, 2027. We produce and present passionate, provocative, moving and entertaining performances and exhibits.
As we head into our 15th festival, our theme is:
Here, Because
SkirtsAfire Festival values diversity in the women we represent. We welcome submissions from women artists of all diverse backgrounds including cis and trans women, non-binary people who are comfortable performing in a women focussed festival, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and artists of all ethnicities and all abilities.
SkirtsAfire is seeking artists for live performances including (but not limited to):
- Solo, duo and trio music performances and/or bands
- Comedy Acts
- Cabaret Acts
- Spoken Word
- Dance, movement, circus, acrobatics, and aerial pieces
- Interactive/Immersive performance art (that can take place in a theatre or lobby setting)
- Multidisciplinary mash ups
- Theatrical new works
- Performance/theatrical art and stories adapted for live performance
Guidelines
- Single performers must be women or non-binary artists who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of women. For larger performance groups, women or non-binary people must be the driving force in the troupe.
- The theme for 2027 is Here, Because. Don’t have a performance that fits within the theme? That’s okay! The theme is meant to inspire but not all acts need to be directly connected to it.
- Please submit performances that are up to 30 minutes in length. However, most festival slots offer 10-15 minutes.
- There is no fee to submit an application.
- Selected artists receive an honorarium for participating in the festival.
- Submissions should list the full team, SkirtsAfire does not provide artists or creative team. For all variety-show programming (Off the Page, Comedy Night, emBODYment, and Sparklers), SkirtsAfire will provide a venue stage manager to call the show, as well as the necessary venue technicians.
Got an idea? We’d love to hear it! Let us know if you think of something outside-the-box that would be a great fit for SkirtsAfire! Please fill out our online Artist Submission Form below to apply. Include samples of work (at least 1, but multiple samples encouraged) to support your submission including but not limited to photos, video or sound files/links, reviews, interviews and other supporting documents.
Artists in Edmonton and surrounding areas will be prioritized. We do welcome national submissions, however, SkirtsAfire is currently unable to provide travel and accommodation expenses at this time.
National Artists:
We welcome submissions from artists across Canada. Please note, for our 2027 festival, we will only be able to feature artists based in Alberta. If you are an artist outside of Alberta but have accommodations in Edmonton, kindly indicate this in your application. Artists not based in Alberta and applying for this cycle will have their projects considered for our 2028 festival. Thank you for your interest in SkirtsAfire Festival!
International Artists:
At this time, we are only accepting applications from Canadian artists. We appreciate your understanding.
Visual Artists:
While expanding opportunities for visual artists is a future goal for the festival, we have not yet secured a dedicated space for this. If you are applying as a visual artist, we are seeking pieces suitable for display in lobbies and small business windows along Whyte Avenue. Works can be in any medium but ideally should be able to be hung. Please note that, at this time, we are unable to accommodate large sculptural pieces.
Deadline for submissions is September 15, 2026. Use the form below or CLICK HERE to access the form in a separate window.
Find out more information about the festival here!