FRINGE REPUBLICBog Island, Llandudno

Saturday 15th June 2002

‘Real Institute’ declares an independent free state the ‘Fringe Republic’ on Bog Island, Llandudno on Saturday 15th June 2002.

Everyone is invited to celebrate their independence with a day of arts, culture, utopian laws, bizarre happenings and fun.

‘Fringe Republic’ is passionately idealistic while also reflecting our real world confines, questioning prevalent conventions of freedom and ownership. As with any other state, there are border controls, currency exchange and compulsory state laws. However, anyone can enter the Fringe Republic and roam as they please, the local currency is provided free-of-charge and the laws can be made or changed by anyone at any time.

Germaline Puddlesuck, of the ‘Real Institute’ collective, says:
“We’re declaring independence as a small group of ordinary people tired of the globalisation of this world. We want to escape and at the same time know that escape has become impossible. We could attempt a 70’s style commune, wander the streets or simply go crazy but we’d rather go the whole whole futile hog and found the Fringe Republic. Bog Island is our idyllic retreat, and yet its a very small piece of land, just a patch of grass, a couple of trees and the town’s public toilets - right in the middle of the conservative sea-side town of Llandudno. A perfect place to hide an alternative state.”

On entering the republic, visitors are proclaimed Fringe Republic citizens and issued with passports, careers and life histories - thus creating an instant community for the new state. This community feeds on entertainment.

Grandly billed as an ‘Independence Day Carnival,’ the celebration has a street party feel but with no streets. Live performers include trickster Dan Collister, drummers ‘African Link’ and contemporary dancers ‘Dawns I Bawb’. There is national TV (i.e. from the Fringe Republic’s Ministry of Properganda), international short films, game stalls, travelling musicians and itinerant artists. In a quirky world of role-play, visitors are encouraged to take on jobs during their stay - perhaps becoming a border guard or free-thinker for an hour before contributing to the chaotic and ultimately useless state parliament.

Its a metamorphic state, evolving according to it’s inhabitants’ sometimes erratic decisions.
Maybe they’ll be a revolution.