PortFringe Invites artists to reimagine the creation story for 2027 POP-UP
Photo by PortFringe
PortFringe is inviting artists across the performing arts to help create a new interpretation of the biblical creation story for its 12th annual POP-UP performance, scheduled for Jan. 23, 2027, in Portland.
Applications for the community-generated performance are set to close on Saturday, Oct. 31. Organized by PortFringe FC (PFC), the event brings together artists to create an unpredictable, collaborative performance inspired by the Book of Genesis.
Under the theme “The Story of Creation,” the 2027 POP-UP encourages artists to explore the source material through a wide range of creative approaches. According to the organizers, contributions can be sacred, profane, strange, beautiful, hilarious, or entirely unexpected.
The event is designed to support Portland’s independent performing arts community while raising funds for PortFringe, which organizes the annual fringe theater festival.
Unlike a traditional theatrical production, POP-UP assembles independently created scenes into a single performance. Selected artists will each receive an assigned section of the creation story and develop a short piece based on that material. The scenes will come together for the first time before a live audience, resulting in a fresh, collaborative interpretation of the biblical narrative.
Each scene must run no longer than eight minutes, including setup and breakdown. Performances must also be adaptable to nontraditional performance spaces, with minimal technical requirements and setup time.
Artists working in all performance genres are welcome to apply. Participants can enter the selection lottery in one of two ways: as an established team or as an individual artist.
Six teams will be selected through the lottery, with each team responsible for creating and performing a scene. Groups must include at least three participating artists to qualify as a team. Organizers will also select up to eight individual artists, who will be brought together to form a seventh team.
Selected artists will be expected to attend two or three brief online check-in meetings during December and January. Participants must be available to perform in person in Portland in January, although they should be prepared to adapt their work for a digital format if necessary.
The event is also an opportunity for artists to support the broader independent performance community. POP-UP serves as a fundraiser for PortFringe, and participating artists will not receive payment for their work. In recognition of their contributions, however, each selected team will receive 10 tickets to the upcoming PortFringe Festival in June 2027.
The 2027 performance is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23, with Saturday, Jan. 30, serving as a backup date. Organizers expect to notify selected artists of the lottery results in early November, with additional participation details provided to those chosen.
Artists interested in participating can find application information on the official PortFringe website.
Applications are due Oct. 31, 2026.
For more information or to apply, visit PortFringe's website.