The 2020s: Sacred Brands and Disposable Gods, Presented with Limited Ad Interruptions
Imagine you are an archeologist in the future. Reinterpret and mis-imagine relics for a history exhibit on the historical period of the 2020s. Were the Hollywood Stars a memorial to fallen soldiers? Were minions household spirits?
Artists are invited to playfully explore the biased and messy nature of writing history by creating objects, images, performances or text that mis-interpret or mythologize the 2020s as seen by a future culture.
I am interested in seeing both works of art that question and challenge current societal power structures and norms and works that present an optimistic view of the present day, celebrating the innovation and creativity of our modern world.
The Nestle company could be understood as a powerful political and military force using slave labor, similar to how the East India Company is understood today, highlighting the way consumers mentally separate the sweets produced from their unethical production practices.
Social media could be understood as a literal drug, imagining pubs banning public use of social media because of the second-hand slop, and understanding brain rot as a physical disease.
The Curator would like to share these artworks as examples to illustrate their thinking:
Curator Roxanne Darby
Curated by Roxanne Darby
Roxanne Darby is a freelance writer, performer and artist based in Gloucestershire. She is interested in intersections between art, culture and current affairs. Roxanne is passionate about exploring questions on propaganda, human memory and identity through storytelling. Her background is in Russian and Slavic Studies, with a particular interest in Soviet propaganda and Russian fairytales. This is her first time curating an exhibition.
How to apply
Fringe Arts Bath Festival will take place 22 May to 6 June 2026
Submission deadline: Friday 10th April 2026 at 23h59 GMT
Media accepted: All
Free submission. All are welcome to apply, of any age, status, and from anywhere in the world.
If selected, we ask Artists for a £25 contribution (like crowdfunding) and to give some of their time, as we are all volunteers.
Please read our FAQs here to find out more.See all 17 projects open to submissions on our home page: fringeartsbath.co.uk
To submit your work: please email the curator brands@fringeartsbath.co.uk including:
NB: please include the exhibition / project name in the email title.
max 200 words about your work and how it fits the call-out (written, audio file, video or another way to suit you).
some images of the work, or links to video / performance work (or existing work if it hasn’t been made yet).
any relevant links, if you have them (though it’s not a requirement and Curators might not have the capacity to visit them all).
of course please include any questions you have.
you might not hear back from Curators until after the deadline, thank you for your patience.