THE Venues
Two traditional stages will anchor the festival alongside a series of unconventional settings, designed in collaboration with some of the most exciting visual artists and architects working today.
DomeRx BY DARREN ROMANELLI
An immersive 360-degree artspace created by artist and designer Darren Romanelli/DRx the DomeRx space draws upon Romanelli’s nostalgia for the classic Laserium music and laser light shows and his fascination with the architectural elements of Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome. Romanelli conceptualized an exclusive new series of his iconic chair designs for the space, including double-seater bean bags and ottomans sustainably created with all recycled materials.
For the DomeRx premiere at FORMAT, Romanelli brought on longtime collaborator, Jessica Hundley, the creator, author, and Editor of the Taschen Book’s multi-volume encyclopedia series The Library of Esoterica. Working collaboratively, Romanelli and Hundley will create a 3-day experience celebrating our symbiotic relationship with nature, including a specially-curated 360 “mixtape” edit of the Netflix documentary Good Trip: Adventures In Psychedelics. Other programming includes full sets from festival music performances with an artistic overlay, plant poetry meditations, plant music listening parties, the release of the fourth volume of the Taschen encyclopedia series, Plant Magick, and an exclusive DOMEGROWN zine
local gate competition
Welcoming patrons to FORMAT is the Entry Gateway designed by a local artist! Our annual competition invites Northwest Arkansas artists to submit a design proposal for the festival’s entrance gate for a chance to be awarded the Gate Grant.
We are excited to present the winning design by Athen Brandon, a site-specific installation that will reflect the natural flow of the Ozarks region. Brandon’s design pulls influence from nature, the human brain, and free-flowing abstract elements, with each aspect coexisting alongside one another.
THE cube
An inaugural project that brings together a guest curator and an emerging visual artist, who is honored with a grant award, to design the exterior scrim of one of FORMAT’s most prominent venues, The Cube. This year, New York-based gallerist Nicola Vassell selected Kenyan-raised artist Uman’s bold and colorful design. Uman’s varied migrations and encounters with heritage influence her gestural work and seemingly freestyle markings, while remaining spiritually engaged and derived from instinct.
The Cube's musical program will be presented alongside the revolutionary audio system d&b Soundscape. This venue is a journey through augmented sonic realities, including deep listening sessions, renowned musical acts and local instrumentalists, alongside workshops and keynote talks.
SMOKEY’S
This forest oasis will be an interactive "adult playground" with wooden structures and hidden enclaves designed by Brazilian artist duo assume vivid astro focus. From percussion to our headlining late night DJ acts, get lost in Sugar Creek forest through sunshine shelter and night time light shows.
DRAG ME TO THE DISCO
A barn transformed into a disco madhouse of discovery, inclusivity and play by Maurizio Cattelan's TOILETPAPER Magazine. From daily disco get downs, world live music, vinyl funk sets, and a drag host, this will be a place to feast your eyes.
NEXT DOOR: “NOVA HEAT”
A multi-roomed full immersive installation and structure created by New York based artists Jonah Freeman & Justin Lowe. Enter the dystopian reality of this duos universe via a secret entrance that takes you into a multi-layered narrative of uncanniness. The most intimate venue onsite, it will include a myriad of musical acts from local acts, surprise performances and sonic sessions. When you find this speakeasy, it will be hard to leave...
Bizarre Bazaar
Designed by renowned architects Charlap Hyman & Herrero, the Bizarre Bazaar will be a maze of uniquely curated retail, food, and beverage vendors. A space for discovery and curiosity, ranging from performance stands, limited edition artist collaborations, unusual workshops, quirky concept shops, strange and wonderful objects and collectibles, local vendors and pop-ups and festival merch. Our aim is also to make the Bizarre Bazaar a platform for local artisanal artists and food vendors alike.
