The Inglewood community has become the new permanent home to Calgary’s Fringe Festival, which is celebrating its fourth year in August 2009, and it looks like a match made in heaven.

Since 2006, different neighbourhoods have hosted the Fringe, but there were drawbacks or limitations with each of the locations. After a year on 17th Avenue SW and another downtown, the Fringe came to Inglewood in 2008.

“We were looking for a place where people could easily walk from show to show,” explains Michele Gallant, festival director. “Inglewood is the oldest neighbourhood in Calgary. It has an old town feel and there are lots of different venues, so we have room to grow. As well, there is great shopping and lots of little bistros and places to eat. It’s just such a lovely, welcoming atmosphere, which is exactly what we want for the Fringe.”

Playing host to a festival as large as the Fringe certainly has benefited this quiet, quaint community. Spin-offs include increased foot traffic for local merchants and an increased community profile with more Calgarians.

“The Fringe Festival is great for Calgary and having it in Inglewood certainly helps to raise the profile of the community,” says Jake Blumes, BRZ Liason for the Inglewood Community Association (ICA). “The Fringe Festival enriches the cultural environment for the residents of the community. The BRZ fully supports and loves having the Fringe in the neighbourhood because it brings exposure for the shops along 9th Avenue and in the BRZ to many people who might not otherwise see Inglewood as a shopping, dining and entertainment destination.”

The ICA has embraced the Fringe, playing a key role in its success.

“Having such a great caliber event in Inglewood is a direct benefit to our community,” says ICA president Gian-Carlo Carra.

“It was a terrific experience to be able to walk out the door and take in all these amazing shows at different venues. It makes it a more exciting and robust place to be.”

He adds that having the opportunity to host the Fringe is in alignment for the long-term vision for the community. “This is a mixed-use, mixed-income environment. Working with the Fringe totally speaks to our mandate and our vision.”

Adds Gallant, “The community association did a terrific job of helping us with advertising, spreading the word across the community and volunteering. In fact, several community members opened their homes to billet out-of-town artists!”

The Inglewood community hall is also one of the Fringe show venues.

Fringe Rewind on the way!

This March, Inglewood will once again be in the spotlight with the launch of the new Fringe Rewind event.

Capturing the best of the Fringe, the event brings back the most popular artists and shows for two high-energy, fun weekends. The March 12 to 14 and March 19 to 21 schedule includes:

• Monster Theatre, Jesus Christ: The Lost Years (2006 Calgary Fringe)

• Broadway West, Vagina Monologues (2006 Calgary Fringe)

• Mahatmamajama Productions, Deep Fried Curried Perogies (2007 Calgary Fringe)

• Colette Kendall, Tippi Seagram’s Happy Hour/Whose Afraid of Tippi Seagram? (2006 and 2008 Calgary Fringe)

• Obscene But Not Heard, Jihad Me At Hello (2006 and 2007 Calgary Fringe)

• Broadway West, Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical (2008 Calgary Fringe)

2009 Fringe better than ever

Plans for the 2009 Calgary Fringe Festival, taking place July 31 to Aug. 9, are well underway and this year promises to be bigger than ever.

The festival is partnering with Inglewood merchants to offer an outdoor component with vendors, street performers and buskers.

“We are really looking forward to a better-than-ever festival this year,” says Gallant. “With a community arts festival, play structures, street performers and of course, great shows featuring artists from around the world, it will be a great big, fun party.”

For more information on the Fringe Rewind and the Calgary Fringe Festival, visit: www.calgaryfringe.ca