About NIFF
Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) is an unjuried, uncensored festival for independent Indigenous performers in theatre, dance, music and comedy. Participants send in applications and are chosen by lottery. Performers receive 100% of the box office proceeds. NIFF is proud to be a member of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals.
NIFF explores workshops that focus on playwriting, direction, storytelling, performance and community collaboration with experienced teaching artists. The NIFF Knowledge Sharing Project participants have a long history of work in Nogojiwanong with extensive performance, teaching and administrative experience. NIFF is committed to providing a space for people to experience and embrace the arts and community with an extensive commitment to the development and transmittal of cultural knowledge and creative practice.
Throughout the project, artists are supported in leading their own learning. Festival performers are offered the option of mentorship, which can include the mentor’s attendance at rehearsals, script or performance development exercises or other interactions.
Skill development in production and arts administration are also offered. There are workshops in tour management and “How to Fringe” led by experienced producers like Josh Languedoc, Deb Ratelle and Lee Bolton. Unlike other Fringes, where companies are left on their own to manage their technical needs and work to the very tight schedules of the festival, mentorship is offered to all performing companies by Nozhem Technical Director Don White.
The NIFF Knowledge Sharing Project is fortunate to be supported by an experienced and generous group of teaching artists. Well-known playwright, novelist and commentator Drew Hayden Taylor has been with the project since the beginning and Muriel Miguel and Deborah Ratelle of the legendary Spiderwoman Theater company have a long history of work in Nogojiwanong and joined enthusiastically in the early stages of planning. The Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies at Trent University is very supportive of the Festival and the Knowledge Sharing Project and continues to offer opportunities for the sharing of cultural knowledge. The NIFF Collective is made up of women with extensive performance, teaching and administrative experience.
The Knowledge Sharing Project at the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival advances the artistic development of participating Fringe artists as well as other local and regional Indigenous artists, increases the organizational and administrative capacity of participating arts groups, improve representation of Indigenous artists in the Fringe movement and beyond, connect artistic and Elders with developing artists and arts practices, and promote Indigenous performing arts in the Nogojiwanong region.
NIFF explores workshops that focus on playwriting, direction, storytelling, performance and community collaboration with experienced teaching artists. The NIFF Knowledge Sharing Project participants have a long history of work in Nogojiwanong with extensive performance, teaching and administrative experience. NIFF is committed to providing a space for people to experience and embrace the arts and community with an extensive commitment to the development and transmittal of cultural knowledge and creative practice.
Throughout the project, artists are supported in leading their own learning. Festival performers are offered the option of mentorship, which can include the mentor’s attendance at rehearsals, script or performance development exercises or other interactions.
Skill development in production and arts administration are also offered. There are workshops in tour management and “How to Fringe” led by experienced producers like Josh Languedoc, Deb Ratelle and Lee Bolton. Unlike other Fringes, where companies are left on their own to manage their technical needs and work to the very tight schedules of the festival, mentorship is offered to all performing companies by Nozhem Technical Director Don White.
The NIFF Knowledge Sharing Project is fortunate to be supported by an experienced and generous group of teaching artists. Well-known playwright, novelist and commentator Drew Hayden Taylor has been with the project since the beginning and Muriel Miguel and Deborah Ratelle of the legendary Spiderwoman Theater company have a long history of work in Nogojiwanong and joined enthusiastically in the early stages of planning. The Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies at Trent University is very supportive of the Festival and the Knowledge Sharing Project and continues to offer opportunities for the sharing of cultural knowledge. The NIFF Collective is made up of women with extensive performance, teaching and administrative experience.
The Knowledge Sharing Project at the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival advances the artistic development of participating Fringe artists as well as other local and regional Indigenous artists, increases the organizational and administrative capacity of participating arts groups, improve representation of Indigenous artists in the Fringe movement and beyond, connect artistic and Elders with developing artists and arts practices, and promote Indigenous performing arts in the Nogojiwanong region.