The SkirtsAfire Festival, an annual theatre and multidisciplinary arts festival, champions women in the arts. Each year, it draws a significant crowd eager to experience the unique works of artists from diverse backgrounds, as reported by edmontonski.com.
A Bit of History
SkirtsAfire, an all-female multidisciplinary theatre company, was founded in 2012. It launched the SkirtsAfire Festival as a direct response to the significant underrepresentation of women and non-binary artists at the professional level. The festival takes place annually in March at various venues across the city. Since its inception, the SkirtsAfire Festival has become a beloved event in Edmonton, and for good reason: it presents powerful and deeply moving stories to a diverse audience. The festival’s programming genuinely reflects the vibrant artistic community in Canada and Alberta, always adapting to the needs of both artists and attendees. The festival deeply values the diversity of the artists it showcases, welcoming individuals from all walks of life, including cis and trans women, and non-binary individuals who feel comfortable in a space that centres women’s experiences. Annette Loiselle, the festival’s Artistic Director, grew up immersed in theatre. Art has always been an integral part of her life. Loiselle consistently observed that women often had fewer opportunities within the theatre industry. This led Annette to gather a group of colleagues, and together they embarked on extensive research. Soon, the group landed on the idea of creating a multidisciplinary arts festival aimed at empowering artists and audiences through performances, events, and exhibitions.
What Makes SkirtsAfire Special
SkirtsAfire is an organization dedicated to fostering cultural innovation, kindness, and respect. It’s open to collaborating with various communities and strives to be responsible, continuously learning and evolving. The SkirtsAfire Festival has gained international recognition as a theatre and multidisciplinary arts festival, presenting artistically complex, diverse, and feminist programming. The festival’s popularity in Canada is clearly demonstrated by its growth. Just imagine: what began as a four-day celebration featuring 70 local artists and 600 attendees has blossomed into an 11-day event involving over 100 artists and attracting 3,000 visitors. The core mission of the SkirtsAfire Festival is to support women and emerging artists, both on and off the stage. The SkirtsAfire team is comprised of passionate staff, board members, curators, artists, and audience members. Their dedication consistently garners strong community support. Anyone can join in to experience beautiful and captivating performances, exhibitions, and workshops spanning theatre, poetry, dance, and much more. The festival’s program truly reflects the genuine diversity of Alberta’s and Canada’s thriving artistic community and is always tailored to the needs of artists and audiences alike.
SkirtsAfire Festival 2025
In 2025, the festival captivated Edmontonians with bold stories, powerful performances, and artistic excellence. Held from March 6th to March 16th, it showcased theatre, dance, music, and visual arts across Edmonton. The electrifying show “Dance Nation” took place at the Gateway Blvd NW theatre. It followed a group of teenage dancers striving for mastery as they prepared for the National Championship. Their journey was filled with ambition, friendship, and self-discovery. The narrative powerfully explored the strengths and challenges young girls face as they navigate the world. Under the direction of Amanda Goldberg and choreographer Julian Murphy, “Dance Nation” seamlessly blended theatre, movement, and raw emotion. Overall, it received positive reviews from both critics and audiences. Special performances, including a “Tiered Pay-What-You-Will Night” and an “ASL Interpreted Show,” were also held on March 11th, 12th, and 13th. In conclusion, the SkirtsAfire Festival truly stands out as an event that celebrates Edmonton’s incredibly talented and diverse artistic community.