BLUE FRINGE
Celebrating the creativity of people with a lived experience of mental illness. Promoting the benefits of creativity for mental wellbeing & resilience.
ANNOUNCING
THE 29TH ANNUAL
BLUE FRINGE
ART & LITERATURE
FESTIVAL 2021
Our first ever online exhibition last year was an amazing success showcasing a brilliant and inspiring collection of art and literature that was experienced by more people than ever before. In 2021, Blue Fringe will be an online event again featuring a 3D virtual gallery, an interactive online book, a printed book, and an online awards event.
Blue Fringe 2021 Awards categories are
ART | PHOTOGRAPHY | SCULPTURE | TEXTILES | POETRY | SHORT STORIES
Monetary prizes to be awarded for each category.
Entries CLOSE - Monday 4 October 2021
Exhibition LAUNCH - Friday 15 October 2021
Awards EVENT - Saturday 23 October 2021
Entry into the Blue Fringe 2021 Art and Literature Festival is open to adults with a lived experience of mental illness, and any young person of high school age in celebration of mental wellbeing and resilience.
This year, all entries are to be submitted online as a digital file for the virtual exhibition and book. Technical support will be available if needed. For more information about entry requirements and how to enter go to the entry details and forms on this website. Please Contact Us if you have any queries or need technical support to enter. And be sure to follow Blue Fringe on Facebook and Instagram for event updates.
WHAT'S ON
WELCOME TO
THE BLUE FRINGE
The Blue Fringe Art and Literature Festival celebrates the creativity of people with a lived experience of mental illness and aims to raise awareness and create positive conversations about mental illness and the benefits of creativity for mental well-being and resilience.
Born and bred in the Blue Mountains, the traditional lands of the Darug and Gundungurra People, the Blue Fringe Festival is held in October each year to coincide with Mental Health Month in Australia.
Through its life, Blue Fringe has showcased the talents of thousands of poets, artists, photographers and story tellers offering monetary prizes for excellence. For many, it is the first time they have shared their work publicly and for some the experience is life changing.
“Blue Fringe is an opportunity to be heard, to be seen. It opens up conversations. It brings mental illness out of the darkness and into the light.”
Read more about the story of Blue Fringe >
BLUE FRINGE 2020
The 28th Blue Fringe Art & Literature Festival was held for the first time online in 2020 with great success. Nearly 2000 unique visitors saw the exhibition from here and around the world.
You can still view the virtual exhibition here, flick through the virtual book here, watch the awards on this website.
BLUE FRINGE SHOP
Selected Artwork will be available for purchase online during the 2021 exhibition. Artists receive 100% of the sale price.
The Blue Fringe 2021 Book featuring all art and literature work will also be available to buy. There are a few copies of the 2020 book available to buy here.
With thanks & gratitude to the wonderful supporters & sponsors of Blue Fringe
The festival would not have been possible without the support of many generous local people and businesses over the years. The Blue Mountains City Council has also been a long time supporter of the Festival and recognises the important cultural role the event plays in our community and in generating positive conversations around mental health.
.png)
.jpg)
The Organising Committee for Blue Fringe is made up of workers from Springwood Neighbourhood Centre, Belong Blue Mountains, Stride Mental Health and Blue Mountains Women’s Health and Resource Centre and a very committed and passionate team of wonderful volunteers.
