All Out Arts is now accepting submissions for the 12th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival, New York City’s grassroots, multi-disciplinary international festival of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer arts and culture. A cornucopia of various forms of artistic expression, the festival is presented across lower Manhattan each July. Entries are accepted through January 13, 2014 for no submission fee (through January 27, 2014 with $10 late fee).

Additional information on the Fresh Fruit Festival, including guidelines & details, available at www.FreshFruitFestival.com.

“Last year’s festival was a breakout year, featuring over 40 multi-disciplinary works showcasing LGBTQ arts and culture, much more than ever before,” says Festival Founder and Artistic Director Carol Polcovar. “We can’t wait to see what this year has in store for what can only be another transformative year.”

The Fresh Fruit Festival showcases the whole spectrum of LGBTQ lives as expressed in theatre, performance art, dance, film, spoken word, graphic arts, music and beyond. Thus, if it is “art” and it reflects any aspect of the LGBTQ community and its culture, you are welcome to submit. Last years' festival featured a poetry slam, two weeks of theater and performance art, dance, jazz, an art exhibit, variety acts, opera, and much more.

The Festival seeks diversity, “color,” and things less traditionally available in mass media. Submissions are done electronically via the festival’s official website, www.FreshFruitFestival.com. Entrants will be notified in late-March 2014. Accepted artists are showcased in a full-staffed AEA-approved venue, and also receive marketing assistance, networking opportunities and a share of ticket sales.

Established in 1992, All Out Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to bringing together the diverse artistic, organizational, political and financial resources of the LGBTQ community in order to fight intolerance. All Out Arts fulfills its mission by supporting arts organizations within the community through fiscal sponsorship, events, contests, collaborations, networking events for emerging artists, and by sponsoring productions, concerts and exhibitions of visual arts.

The Fresh Fruit Festival is presented by All Out Arts to celebrate the LGBTQ community's unique perspective, creativity & diversity, and to build links between the LGBTQ artistic communities, be they local or international.