A message from Fringe Theatre:
The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival runs on volunteers, but there are some whose work is harder to see: the hosts who provide travelling artists with somewhere to live.
"Myself, I've had clowns, I've had zombies, I've had a hockey player," said Barb Round, who's been volunteering with the host program for 12 years and the Fringe for 20. Now she's a team leader for the host volunteers, meaning she tries to recruit as many other hosts as she can. And yes, she still hosts artists, too. "The last four years I've hosted a company from Japan," Round said, "and this year we have five artists from Vancouver that do improv."
A volunteer named Cam started the host program independently 25 years ago. Five years ago, it became part of the Fringe's official volunteer program. Now, team leaders like Round coordinate the other volunteer hosts and decide who should go where.
"We don't require a lot," explained Olivia Bogaard, the Fringe's volunteer engagement manager. "We ask that our host volunteers just open up their homes to touring artists. All you need to do is provide a sleeping area that's private, access to bathroom facilities, and a key for the duration of their stay."
In a typical year, the Fringe has about 60 hosts and looks to house around 100 artists. Artists are usually looking for one- or two-person rooms, though sometimes groups are as large as six. For every hosted performer, the volunteer gets two Fringe tickets as a thank-you.
Many hosts return year after year, Bogaard said. "I find the thing that is really interesting about the program is the relationships that sometimes get formed through an artist staying with host families," she said, recalling one troupe that created a comic strip in honour of the host who housed them for several years in a row.
All kinds of people volunteer in this way, Round said. "We have retired people, we have students, we have people in condos, people in apartments," she said. "You don't have to have a house. All you need to do is have a bed, even if it's a couch."
Both the artists and the hosts fill out billets indicating specifics such as transportation needs, allergies, and what hours can be expected, among other factors. Team leaders then make the best possible matches. Hosts and artists who want to be together again can also make that request.
"It's a great experience and we have met some great people that have become friends of ours," Round said, "and it's nice to see them every year and reconnect with everybody. So it's a great, unique experience, a way to contribute without a big time or financial commitment."
Learn more about how to join the Fringe Festival Host Team.
This year's Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival runs from Aug. 14 to 24. Festival Guides go on sale on July 30, and ticket sales open on Aug. 6. Learn more at fringetheatre.ca.