SkirtsAfire
Founded in 2012, SkirtsAfire is Edmonton’s theatre and multidisciplinary arts organization featuring women. In conjunction with International Women’s Day, our 10 day programming runs each March at various venues in the city. We present powerful and insightful stories to a diverse audience that is hungry to be moved by passionate performances and exhibitions. Programming reflects the true diversity of the thriving arts community in Alberta and Canada, and is adaptive in its approach in order to remain responsive to the needs of artists and audiences.
SkirtsAfire Festival values diversity in the artists we represent and therefore welcomes artists of all diverse backgrounds, including cis and trans women, non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of women, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and artists of all ethnicities and all abilities.
Our Vision
SkirtsAfire empowers artists and audiences. We create space for women’s artistic expression to be cultivated, experienced and shared. We are diverse, inclusive and daring.
Our Mission
SkirtsAfire is a diverse and inclusive theatre and multidisciplinary arts festival that empowers its artists. We value the voices of all women. We create and showcase art for everyone to experience and enjoy. We foster a collaborative environment for both new and familiar perspectives in our artists and audiences. Our festival provides an opportunity to open and transform minds; turning the ordinary into extraordinary.
Who We Are
SkirtsAfire is driven by a passionate team of staff, board members, curators, artists, volunteers and audience. We are grateful for the incredible support we receive from our community, and can’t wait to continue the tradition of celebrating and elevating the work of women!
What We Do
Join us each year to be immersed in our powerful, beautiful, engaging performances, exhibits and workshops in Theatre, Poetry, Spoken Word, Design, Art, Dance, Cabaret, Music, Comedy, Yoga, and more. Programming reflects the true diversity of the thriving arts community in Alberta and Canada, and is adaptive in its approach in order to remain responsive to the needs of artists and audiences.
Why We Do It
Founded by a volunteer board of artists and arts enthusiasts in 2012, SkirtsAfire is a multidisciplinary arts festival in Edmonton, Alberta. It has a unique mission to support the development and feature the work of women and non-binary artists who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of women. SkirtsAfire provides quality paid opportunities for these artists, who are dedicated to pursuing a professional career in the arts.
SkirtsAfire was created in response to the severe underrepresentation of these artists at the professional level, and works to celebrate and elevate the profile of these artists in Edmonton, Alberta, across Canada and beyond.
Our Growth
What began as a four-day celebration featuring the work of 70 local artists and 600 attendees has now grown to span 10 days and include over 100 artists and over 3000 attendees. We continue to expand our programming, our brand awareness, our audience reach, and our team of artists, staff, board, and volunteers. Each year we ask ourselves how we can do better, think bigger, and how we can continue serving the community we’ve created with a festival to be proud of.