Draft:Oslo Drag Festival

The Oslo Drag Festival is Norway's inaugural and sole event dedicated to drag and the Norwegian drag scene. . Since its inception in 2021, the festival has grown into a celebration of queer art, diverse expressions, and community. In 2024 the festival is supported by Oslo Municipality, Arts Council Norway, The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir), Gay and Lesbian Health Norway (Helseutvalget), Frifond and SALT Art & Music

About the festival
The festival, that started out at a one-day event in 2021, has grown to become a weekend-long celebration filled with innovative, entertaining, and sometimes provocative performances and activities. Attendees have the opporunity to experience the following:

1. Drag shows: Over 50 performing drag artists, both professionals and amateurs, will grace the stage with their unique acts.

2. Concerts: Enjoy live music performances that celebrate diversity and self-expression.

3. Stand-Up comedy: Get ready for laughter as drag comedians share their wit and humor.

4. Children and youth shows: Family-friendly drag shows for all ages.

5. Workshops and lectures: Learn about the art of drag, its history, and its impact on queer culture.

6. Panel discussions: Engage in thought-provoking conversations about drag, identity, and more.

The Festival on why drag matters
According to the festival, Drag is more than just glitter and fabulous costumes; it's an essential form of performance art that creates necessary safe spaces for queer expressions. The Oslo Drag Festival aims to:


 * Professionalize the drag field: By showcasing both seasoned performers and emerging talents, the festival contributes to the growth and recognition of drag as an art form.
 * Cultural exchange: The festival fosters cultural exchange by bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds.
 * Public education: Through workshops and discussions, the festival educates audiences about the significance of drag in LGBTQ+ history and contemporary society.

The 2024 festival

 * Dates: May 31 - June 1, 2024
 * Location: SALT Art & Music, Oslo, Norway
 * Organizer: Norwegian Drag Productions in collaboration with SALT Art & Music and Go Figure! Festival
 * Festival Manager: Remi Johansen Hovda, also known as Nabi Yeon Geisha
 * Artistic Director: Jenny Sandmo Ellefsen, also known as Luna Palmer

Lineups
Since the start, the festival has showcased from 50 to 90 different drag artists every year, exploring a diversity of drag performances, including classic drag, drag queens, comedy drag, drag kings, gender-bending drag, drag pageantry, political drag, club kid drag, conceptual drag, burlesque, abjection and more.