FusionFest 2025

Global Exchange lets people discover the world through culture and inclusivity! They will be immersed in global traditions with interactive demonstrations and insightful short talks that celebrate our shared human experience. Curated by Dr. Earl Mowatt, Global Exchange is a dynamic space where audiences can get up close and personal with global cultural traditions, all shared through friendly demonstrations emphasizing inclusivity. 

We invite you to give a short talk about your history, culture, or anything you think everyone should know to understand our diverse world better. Or maybe you'd like to share a skill or teach a craft from your culture! It’s entirely up to you. We want you to enjoy sharing your part of the world with us. If you're interested in presenting, please apply soon, as our presenter schedule is limited.

📅 Saturday, November 29: Presentations from 11 AM – 5 PM
📅 Sunday, November 30: Presentations from 1 PM – 5 PM

Families, Friends, Communities – This One’s for You!

Here’s your chance to create a memorable moment at FusionFest 2025! We’re inviting groups of all kinds; families, cultural organizations, community clubs, school groups, and friend circles  to come together and take a group photo in front of the festival!

Whether you’re representing your country, your culture, or just your crew, this is a perfect opportunity to show your pride and unity. Dress in your traditional garments, vibrant colors, soccer jerseys, ponchos, or any cultural attire that celebrates your heritage. Bring your flags, wear your symbols, and let your spirit shine!

Join us during the Country Meet-Up for a joyful, high-energy gathering where communities connect and cultures are proudly displayed.

Apply and enjoy your time together!

📸 Capture the moment. Celebrate who you are.
✨ This is your time — your story — arranged by YOU at FusionFest 2025!

Showcase Your Cultural Heritage at FusionFest!

Festival Dates: Thanksgiving weekend at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

This is your chance to highlight your heritage by displaying items, costumes, and information that represent your culture. FusionFest will provide a table and wall grid for you to showcase your chosen items. You may also want to have a staff member on hand to engage with festival-goers and share your story. Set up on Friday, and load out after 6pm on Sunday.

Curators Maria Fernanda Saavedra and Samir Fkiyi will select 20 organizations that represent cultures from around the world to create a dynamic and diverse experience for attendees from Central Florida.

What FusionFest Provides:

• An audience of thousands

• Social media post with a tag to increase exposure

• A covered 8x8 space exclusively for your organization

• Nighttime security for your display

What Participating Organizations Provide:

• A completed application submitted by November 21st

• Decorations to creatively display your cultural heritage – whether through a static display that visitors can view or an interactive setup where they can step in, take photos, and engage with the experience

 Global Colors of Culture: A Family Fashion Experience

Join us for a vibrant celebration where fashion becomes a living story of heritage, identity, and love across generations.

At Global Colors of Culture, families take the spotlight, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, walking the runway on our main stage side by side to honor the traditions they carry in their hearts and wear with pride.

This is more than a fashion show, it's a cultural showcase where clothing becomes a canvas for storytelling. We invite you to express the beauty of your roots, whether through ancestral garments, modern interpretations of tradition, or a creative fusion of both.

Let’s explore together how traditions are inherited, reimagined, and passed on through language, symbols, fabrics, and family pride. From colorful embroidery to ceremonial outfits, from dances to accessories that speak of home, every detail tells a story worth sharing.

 Celebrate identity.
 Walk with your loved ones.
 Wear your culture proudly.

Let the runway become a bridge between generations.

Spaces are limited!

WHAT: Local artists are invited to submit original artwork for exhibition and sale at FusionFest 2025. The artwork must have been created within the past three years and should not have been exhibited at FusionFest before.

THEME: "The Art of Joy" – In an uncertain world, Joy becomes an act of resilience; not the absence of struggle, but the presence of hope. Through your original artwork and cultural lens, explore the concept of Joy. 

Note: Nude, political, violent, or racially discriminatory subjects will not be accepted.

DIMENSIONS:

• Minimum: 11" x 14"

• Maximum: 30" high x 36" wide

• Artwork must have finished gallery edges or be framed, and wired, ready for hanging.

• Sculptures: Maximum 3 feet high

This call invites artists to express the uniqueness of their heritage. What are the celebrations, colors, and textures that reflect your cultural background? Artists can submit up to three pieces, and those most aligned with the theme will be selected for the FusionFest Annual Exhibition. Judges will score based on:

1. Skill

2. Creativity

3. Theme

Please note that artwork not meeting the submission requirements will not be selected.

SALES:

• All submitted artwork must be for sale.

• FusionFest takes a 40% commission, and artists receive 60% of the sale.

PRIZES:

• Grand Prize: $1,000

• 2nd Place: $500

• 3rd Place: $250

• Audience Choice Award: $200

SELECTED ARTISTS WILL RECEIVE:

• Display space to hang their selected artwork for sale.

• Promotion on social media and in email newsletters.

• Opportunity to display additional work in other local venues during the festival and beyond.

WHERE & WHEN:
FusionFest – 400 S Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801

• Saturday, Nov. 29th 2025 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Sunday,   Nov. 30th 2025 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Oct.  6: Application Deadline

• Oct. 20: Acceptance Notification

• Nov. 28: Drop-off Artwork (Location and time will be confirmed for selected artwork)

• Nov. 28: Installation

• Nov. 30: De-Installation after the 5 p.m. Awards show

An Invitation to Inspire Through Storytelling

FusionFest is thrilled to introduce a brand-new feature for 2025 – the Authors Showcase at our Global Exchange Bookshelf!

We’re inviting authors from all cultural backgrounds to submit books that reflect the richness of identity, heritage, biography, empowerment, and inspiration. This is a unique opportunity to share your story with a diverse and curious audience in a space that celebrates human connection. (Please note: political content will not be included.)

Your book could be featured on our Global Exchange Bookshelf, where festival goers will engage with your words and connect with you as a storyteller. This is your chance to reach future readers and spark meaningful dialogue in a truly global setting.

In addition, a select number of authors will be invited to speak at the Global Exchange Tent during the festival, sharing insights, experiences, and inspiration in live conversations with our audience.

Apply now to be part of this powerful new element of FusionFest 2025!