Open call: 'Permission to Touch' at Fringe Arts Bath Festival 2026
Type
Biennial/Festival, Exhibition
Category
Conceptual, Installation, Mixed Media
Status
Open for Applications
Deadline
April 10, 2026
Application Fee
Free
Host
Molly Rogers
Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Despite the recent surge in popularity of multisensory and immersive art experiences, the majority of art on display in exhibitions and museums is designed to be seen and not touched. Indeed, the phrase ‘visual art’ is used as an umbrella term, referring to all art forms except music, performance and the written word, but this term is inherently exclusionary of works which are designed to be experienced using other senses and of people who cannot engage visually with the artwork.
The primary aims of Permission to Touch are to break down barriers between the art and the audience, challenge the notion of how we interact with works of art, and create an exhibition which is designed to work for people with different sensory abilities.
There are many facets of the tactile experience which could be used to invoke meaning in artwork, from dynamic stimuli such as rhythm, balance and vibration, to tactile sensations such as temperature, density, give and texture, or whatever else you can imagine!
Work in any medium will be considered, so long as it has a tactile component. Artists will need to take into account how their work will be experienced, ensuring it is safe for people to touch and acknowledging that there is a risk that the work will get dirty or damaged.
Everyone can submit, from anywhere in the world. Submission is free. If you are selected, FaB will ask for a £25 contribution and some of your time - read their FAQs for details (https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/faq).
For more information, please visit https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/permission.
About Fringe Arts Bath:
Fringe Arts Bath (FaB) is a test-bed for new ideas, a platform for early-career curators & artists, and those who prefer to operate outside of the gallery-based arts scene. FaB aims to raise the profile of contemporary visual arts in Bath and beyond.
The FaB festival is a free, 2 week festival putting art in unusual places in unexpected ways for people to happen across and interact with, with exhibitions, interventions and events based in Bath, UK.
There will be over 20 different exhibitions and projects in this year's festival programme, and all of the exhibitions are currently open for submissions. Discover them all at the FaB website: www.fringeartsbath.co.uk.
The primary aims of Permission to Touch are to break down barriers between the art and the audience, challenge the notion of how we interact with works of art, and create an exhibition which is designed to work for people with different sensory abilities.
There are many facets of the tactile experience which could be used to invoke meaning in artwork, from dynamic stimuli such as rhythm, balance and vibration, to tactile sensations such as temperature, density, give and texture, or whatever else you can imagine!
Work in any medium will be considered, so long as it has a tactile component. Artists will need to take into account how their work will be experienced, ensuring it is safe for people to touch and acknowledging that there is a risk that the work will get dirty or damaged.
Everyone can submit, from anywhere in the world. Submission is free. If you are selected, FaB will ask for a £25 contribution and some of your time - read their FAQs for details (https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/faq).
For more information, please visit https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/permission.
About Fringe Arts Bath:
Fringe Arts Bath (FaB) is a test-bed for new ideas, a platform for early-career curators & artists, and those who prefer to operate outside of the gallery-based arts scene. FaB aims to raise the profile of contemporary visual arts in Bath and beyond.
The FaB festival is a free, 2 week festival putting art in unusual places in unexpected ways for people to happen across and interact with, with exhibitions, interventions and events based in Bath, UK.
There will be over 20 different exhibitions and projects in this year's festival programme, and all of the exhibitions are currently open for submissions. Discover them all at the FaB website: www.fringeartsbath.co.uk.