Art at Firefly

Firefly is a community of some of the most creative people in New England and beyond. Each year we come together to be inspired by the woods and by each other. Making and sharing art is central to our collective vision.

If you are an experienced artist, we would love for you and your work to join us. If you are just beginning to explore your creativity, Firefly is an ideal environment in which to experiment. Here the strange is welcomed, and art does not need to make money to be valuable or impress anyone to find a home and an open-minded audience.

Creating art for Firefly is one of the best ways to participate.

INSTALLATION
Firefly creates a unique relationship between the natural and the artificial. Some of our favorite memories are of works of art placed in special natural environments where they suddenly seem to belong. In past years Firefly explorers have come across a rose garden in the woods, a glowing galaxy in the meadow, disco balls hung from trees, and a winged frog sitting above a brook. We would love to see more sculpture and installation art, and we have plenty of space for it.

PERFORMANCE
DJs, bands, and performers of all types are essential to Firefly. The festival is full of opportunities for jamming and improvised performance. Scheduled performances with amplified sound are also possible when a performer collaborates with a camp that is able to provide a sound system. If you are a performer, you can turn your camp into your ideal venue, or use the discussion lists to find another camp to host you.
If you need help connecting with a camp, get onto the Firefly-blink mailing list and collaborate with other musicians and camps so you are heard! This ain't no ordinary gig-- be prepared for adventure!

FIRE
Fireflies love fire performance and all types of fire art. These things happen in designated areas with respect for safety, of course. For more information write to 2010fire (at) fireflyartscollective (dot) org.

DANCE
For many insects, dancing is an important form of communication. For many humans, it is a reason to exist. Come dance with us.

VIDEO
VJ art and video screenings are also an important part of Firefly. In the past theme camps have provided projectors and screens. If you have something to show, use the discussion lists to find a camp that would like to screen it.

GLOWING
Of course Fireflies' favorite activity of all is glowing. At night our village lights up with lasers, LEDs, EL wire, glow sticks, and black light painting. Glowing art is always welcome.

COSTUME
This is your opportunity to dress how you feel, or become a character from your own mythology.

CAMPING
You need a home at Firefly, and your home can be your art, or a home for your friends' art. or more info see the Themecamps page.

GIFTS
Firefly is a gift economy--you may want to make something special to share. Gifts of food and drink are always appreciated.

WHATEVER
If you make art that does not fit into any of the categories on this page, we'd especially like to experience it.

SPACE
Your creativity can turn a clearing in the woods into a perfect place for meditation, ritual, dancing, performance, chilling, teaching, or partying. Wide, flat, open spaces are rare at Firefly. However, if you design your project to fit among the trees, you will have many beautiful sites from which to choose. There is no official system for assigning or reserving sites. As long as you show respect for your neighbors, your project can go wherever you choose.

POWER
Electricity is available in limited areas by camps with generators. If your project requires power it's usually best to provide your own or connect with a camp that you can share resources with on the Firefly-blink mailing list.

PLANNING
Firefly is a Leave No Trace event. This means your project should be planned to have minimal impact on the land, and you will be expected to remove it entirely at the end of the event. Often nature puts Firefly to the test with rain, mud, and cold. Don't let this scare you, but be prepared for an adventure. If your site does not happen to be near the main road, you may need to move your gear quite a ways on foot. If you're new to Firefly and you're planning something big, use the discussion lists to network with experienced Firefly artists and learn what to expect.

GRANTS
Firefly is proud to offer grants for creative projects. For more information, see the Grants page.

HEAD-STARTS
If you would like to start setting up your project before the event, you are welcome to join us for the Work Weekends. We ask that you and your crew also devote some time to infrastructure projects that are necessary to the entire event. When planning, remember that gear you bring in over several days may be difficult to remove in one day at the end of the festival.

CONTACT
You don't need permission to bring your art to Firefly, but if you're planning something, we'd love to hear from you. Write to 2010art (at) fireflyartscollective (dot) org and we can add your project to the line up page of this web site. Also feel free to write to that address with any questions for Firefly planners.

POSSIBILITY
Anything is possible at Firefly with collaboration between participants. If you have an idea but need volunteers, advice, or resources to make it happen, posting to the Discussion Lists and Tribe is the best way to find them.

TICKETS
All Firefly participants, including artists, performers, and organizers, need tickets.
The latest information on ticketing and ticket availability can be found on the main page of this site.