Aesthetica Fringe .
The Aesthetica Film Festival is a BAFTA-Qualifying event held annually in York, now in its 15th year. It showcases a bold mix of films, from shorts and features to documentaries and experimental works, alongside VR, interactive installations, and industry events. Building on this success, the Aesthetica Fringe celebrates emerging talent across music, comedy, exhibitions, installations, and performance. These are artist-led events: you book your venue, run ticketing, and shape the experience. By joining the Fringe, your project becomes part of a citywide cultural programme, transforming York into a creative playground every November. York is a UNESCO City of Media Arts, and the Fringe embodies this status by activating galleries, venues, and public spaces with diverse work. Together, we bring art, performance, and audiences into a shared, inspiring moment.
Aesthetica Fringe
The Aesthetica Fringe is a citywide celebration of emerging creativity across all art forms. From live music and comedy to exhibitions, installations and performance, it’s about making York a cultural playground. These are artist-led events, where you book your venue, promote your work, and connect directly with audiences. Alongside the BAFTA-Qualifying Film Festival, the Fringe creates a space for new voices, experimentation and collaboration. This is where creativity steps out of traditional venues and into every corner of York.
What We're Looking For
We want bold, imaginative work that sparks conversation and brings people together. The Fringe is about uniting artists across disciplines – from stand-up and live music to gallery takeovers, outdoor installations and unexpected pop-up performances. We’re looking for projects that transform familiar spaces into cultural experiences and invite audiences to take part in something new. Whether you’re an emerging artist or an established creator testing fresh ideas, this is your platform to be seen, heard and celebrated.
Why Take Part
Taking part in the Aesthetica Fringe means joining a programme that reaches thousands of festivalgoers and locals. Your event will become part of a high-profile cultural moment, supported through festival-wide marketing and promotion. Plus, 10 artist support grants of £200 are available to help you deliver your project. This is your opportunity to showcase your work, expand your network and be part of a creative movement that transforms York into a hub of live performance, art and innovation every November.
Submission Information .
- 6 August 2025 | Entries Open
- 15 September 2025 | Submission Deadline
- 10 October 2025 | Shortlist Announced
- 5-9 November 2025 | Fringe Takes Place
- Submit your event to join a citywide celebration of new and emerging talent across music, comedy, exhibitions, installations, and performance.
- Take full control: plan, promote, and deliver your event independently in a venue of your choice.
- Activate York’s diverse venues and public spaces, bringing fresh energy to galleries, streets, and theatres.
- Connect directly with engaged audiences across York during the festival period.
- Be part of York’s UNESCO City of Media Arts designation by creating exciting, innovative artistic experiences.
- Collaborate with fellow artists and become part of a vibrant, supportive creative community.
- Showcase your work and experiment in a dynamic cultural playground that transforms the city each November.
- Artists independently plan, book, and manage their own events and venues during the festival period.
- Events can include music, comedy, exhibitions, installations, performance, or other creative forms.
- Applicants provide full event details including title, art form, venue, dates, capacity, and ticketing (free or paid).
- Artists are responsible for event promotion, marketing, and audience engagement.
- Technical and production requirements (lighting, sound, equipment) are specified by applicants; artists arrange equipment through their venue or independently.
- Accessibility needs and risk management plans must be outlined to ensure safe, inclusive experiences.
- A competitive grant scheme offers 10 artist support grants of £200 to help with production, materials, marketing, or technical costs.
- Even without a grant, events can be included if artists can deliver independently.
- Supporting materials such as images, videos, or previous work can be submitted to enhance applications.
- Artists must confirm responsibility for venue booking, installation, promotion, and ticketing.
- The Fringe operates as a collaborative citywide programme, uniting individual artist-led events into a larger creative festival experience.