Almanac’s Artistic Director, Ben Grinberg, has experienced every stage of the lifecycle of devised creative work– from performing artist on stage to producer behind the scenes. Through these various roles he deeply understands what independent creators need at every stage of their journey from creation to touring. Today, Almanac has built a sustainable model that doesn't just support the initial creation of new work, but also provides the financial backing and infrastructure needed to give those projects a real life on tour.
Almanac began in 2013 as a collective of artists passionate about devised theatre and circus. The company created and toured work around the Philadelphia area, using the Philadelphia Fringe Festival as their primary annual platform for launching new material. However, after a transformative trip to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, the team realized that Philly needed a more centralized hub to foster artistic exchange and streamline the production experience for artists. That realization birthedthe Cannonball Festival.
Cannonball grew rapidly, expanding from 28 performing shows to 65, and eventually to 154. It became clear that independent artists were incredibly hungry for this kind of production support. But managing Cannonball became a massive, year-round job, and Almanac’s own creative projects were being pushed to the side. To maintain Cannonball's independent spirit and return to Almanac’s own creative work, the two have become separate entities.
WithCannonball independently thriving, Almanac has looked ahead to the next rung on the ladder. Cannonball proved that independent artists can create and perform compelling new works. But what comes next? How do you take a first-draft fringe show and elevate it to the global stage? That is the link Almanac is working to provide for the circus community today. By stepping in as a producer for independent works, Almanac aims to invest vital resources into promising, innovative stories, ensuring they have the runway to succeed on the international touring circuit.
They’ve already seen this model succeed with the first pilot project Full Out Formula’s show, I Think It Could Work. After being initially produced at Cannonball, the show received funding and production support to go into residency, immersing themselves in refining and evolving the show to present at the Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival. At every stage of the way Almanac was able to provide financial and infrastructure support to the show. The polished version went on to achieve major international success, touring from Philadelphia to the Edinburgh and Perth Fringe Festivals.
Almanac hopes that this model can act as a blueprint to support the growing number of US shows entering international arts markets. American independent artists absolutely have the talent to succeed globally; they simply lack the infrastructure. Ben Grinberg asks us to consider what could be possible in terms of resources and pathways if we worked together? Almanac is getting ready to announce its next round of produced shows and artists. "We want to be in solidarity with people who have similar goals." If you would like to learn more about Almanac or get involved, visit thealmanac.us.
