Fierce Jams: Rolling Open Call for Birmingham Contemporary Performance Makers

This text presents the open call and practical details for Fierce Jams, a nomadic series of small-scale experiments in contemporary performance and live art in Birmingham. Read on for dates, eligibility, application steps, and travel tips for artists and audiences alike.

What is Fierce Jams?

Fierce Jams is an ongoing, itinerant performance series intended as a platform for Birmingham’s contemporary performance community to gather, experiment, and develop practice in conversation with each other. Each edition showcases four local artists—selected via a mix of invitations and an open call—alongside a guest national or international artist. The series encourages collaboration across the city and seeks to move away from scarcity models by making experimentation central to artistic work.

First edition and format

The inaugural edition of Fierce Jams will take place on Saturday, 11 April 2026, set in a public swimming pool. Further dates and unique spaces across Birmingham will be announced throughout the year, with several arts organisations hosting future editions and supporting participating artists.

Who can apply?

This open call is exclusively for artists based in Birmingham who work in contemporary performance or live art. The series aims to present a broad range of forms and strategies, placing emerging and experienced practitioners side-by-side.

How to submit an expression of interest

The application process is intentionally simple and rolling. Submissions for the first edition should arrive by the stated deadline for consideration, but later editions will accept further entries.

• Proposal: up to 300 words OR a 3-minute video or voice note.
• Supplement: link to an artist website, CV, or examples of past work.
• Concept details are not required at this stage—this is an expression of interest, not a full proposal.
• Send enquiries to Clayton Lee via [email protected].

Selection, fees and notification

Selection will prioritise diversity of form and content among contemporary performance and live art practitioners. Artists selected for the first edition will be notified by Friday, 6 March 2025. Each chosen artist will receive a £300 fee and up to £50 for materials; travel and accommodation are not provided for local Birmingham artists.

Performance expectations

Fierce Jams will operate as a series of scratch performances or “jams.” Entries can be actions, interventions, sound-, movement-, or text-based pieces; relational or discursive; short or long. The emphasis is on experimentation rather than polished, finished work. Artists should prepare for site-responsive work in potentially unfamiliar contexts and plan for minimal technical support on the day.

Practical considerations for artists and audiences

Unique venues—like a public pool—pose special logistical needs: transporting props, coordinating timing, and ensuring appropriate safety and licensing. For attendees and artists travelling around Birmingham, convenient local transfers, clear pick-up points, and suitable vehicles (to carry equipment or groups) can make a real difference. Platforms such as LocalsRide.com provide transparency around vehicle make, model, seating capacity, and driver ratings, helping organisers and performers to choose the exact car or van to match their needs.

Transport tips

• Plan equipment transport in advance; consider a private seater or small van for bulky items.
• Book airport or long-distance transfers early if bringing guest artists from outside the city.
• Confirm driver and vehicle details (license, seat count, fare) before travel to avoid surprises.
• Coordinate arrival times to allow for site setup, rehearsals, and warm-ups.

Highlights: Fierce Jams offers a vibrant platform for experimentation, community-building, and cross-venue collaboration in Birmingham, and it opens opportunities for unconventional performance sites and creative logistics. Still, no amount of reviews or descriptions can replace attending and experiencing the work in person. On LocalsRide, you can hire a car with driver from verified providers at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments. Emphasising convenience, affordability, extensive vehicle choices, and a wide range of additional options helps performers and audiences alike plan better. Start planning your next adventure and secure your worldwide transfer with LocalsRide. Book your Ride LocalsRide.com

In summary, Fierce Jams is a rolling, low-tech platform inviting Birmingham-based contemporary performance makers to present short, site-responsive experiments across varied venues beginning in April 2026. Key details include a rolling application process (300 words or a 3-minute video), a £300 artist fee plus £50 materials, and an emphasis on collaboration and experimentation. For travel and logistics—whether airport pick-ups, cab fares, private car hires, or moving equipment—plan ahead to ensure the exact service and vehicle type (from cheap city taxis to private seater or small van options) match your needs. Use transfer services to get artists and audiences to the right location on time, check driver license and vehicle details, compare prices and fares via the app, and book the best option for your date and destination. LocalsRide.com supports transparent, user-friendly booking for transfers, airport rides, and event logistics worldwide, making it easier to get to your performance with confidence.