Submissions Now Open for All Out Arts' 11th Annual FRESH FRUIT FESTIVAL; Deadline Feb 11

All Out Arts is now accepting submissions for the 11th 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 February 11, 2013, and there is no submission fee.

"Going into our 11th year, we have thus far featured performers from every group within the national LGBTQ community, as well as artists from as far away as Kenya, the Philippines, Japan, the Caribbean and Israel," says Festival Founder and Artistic Director Carol Polcovar. "We're excited for what lies ahead as we begin a new decade in amplifying artistic voices traditionally unheard."

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 "high stakes" poetry slam, two weeks of theater and performance art, dance, jazz, an art exhibit, variety acts, and a comedy show, among other works.

The Festival seeks diversity, "color," and things less traditionally available in mass media. Applications are accepted through February 11, 2013, and are available at the festival's official website, www.FreshFruitFestival.com. There is no submission fee. Entrants will be notified in mid-March 2013. 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.

Additional information on the Fresh Fruit Festival, including guidelines and details, is available by visiting www.FreshFruitFestival.com.