Presentations in 2007
Equal ARTpportunities
Collaboration with other Fringes

Through its "Canada-in-Focus" program, Fringe Shanghai 2006 brings to the city some of the latest offerings of Canada's many exciting fringe festivals. We are grateful to the Canadian Consulate General in Shanghai whose generous support makes this unique program possible.

Message from Susan Gregson, Canadian Consul-General in Shanghai

Welcome to the first annual Fringe Shanghai! The Canadian Embassy and Consulate General in Shanghai are pleased to be able to contribute to this year's Fringe Shanghai thanks to the generous support of many Canadian corporations who've made donations to the Patrons's Program. As a focal point for new financial and cultural ideas as well as emerging fashions and forms of artistic expression, both local and international, Shanghai offers an ideal location for a festival that celebrates openness and collaboration between artists from different nations. We are delighted to see such a large contingent of Canadian artists and scholars contributing to the launch of this inaugural festival in Shanghai and hope it will lead to a continuing tradition.

Canada is no stranger to Fringe Festival events. From modest beginnings in Edmonton in 1982, the Canadian Fringe Festival has spread to 23 locations across the nation and internationally thanks to Canadian Fringe artists touring overseas. Since its inception 60 years ago in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Fringe Festival has sought to provide an open forum for emerging artists that can provide them with practical experience and opportunities to showcase their work. The Fringe “mission” is being continued in Shanghai.

This year at Fringe Shanghai the “Canada-in-Focus” Program will display the diversity and creativity of Canadian artists and scholars through a variety of workshops, presentations, and performances. Artistic contributions will encompass an array of visual and performing arts including dance, theatre, music, linguistics, and multi-media. The range of talent represented at this year's Fringe Festival displays a Canadian penchant for diverse forms of artistic expression and the continuing growth and innovation of Canadian artists.

We are very excited by the level of participation by artists from Shanghai and other parts of mainland China. Art has always been a strong vehicle for cultural expression and a medium through which ideas and innovations are shared between people, regions, and nations. Fringe Shanghai provides a vibrant scene for international artists to learn about and understand the form and development of Chinese art and presents opportunities for cooperation and exchange between Chinese artists and artists from other countries. We hope that all the artists, participants, and viewers will be entertained and enthralled by the performances provided and will build long-lasting ties of friendship and creative inspiration that will foster new forms of expressive talent and artistic innovation.

                                                    
                                                 Susan Gregson, Canadian Consul-General in Shanghai

"Canada-in-Focus " programs:

STOP…GO-ON Productions / Nadine Thouin
Cognac and Sausages A Girl In the Sky Productions
I Claudia Elisa Moolecherry
Imaginaria GAPA
SHINJIRU Larchaud Dance Project
The Storyteller Wu Ming Dance Project
Impromptu DTE Theatre Company
Grummelot Lia Como and Nigel Smith

We would like to thank the following partners for their great support and contribution in 2007: