Chance Encounters: Art Through Accident and Invitation
This exhibition brings together artists who embrace uncertainty as a vital force in their work. Whether through deliberate chance operations, collaborative unpredictability, or accidents that become breakthroughs, these makers demonstrate what happens when we surrender control.
The show explores both sides of chance: systems designed to invite randomness - rules, prompts, generative processes - and retrospective appreciation of mistakes that shifted everything. It asks: what do we learn when things don't go to plan? How does unpredictability shape meaning?
Featuring works across disciplines, the exhibition celebrates the generative potential of the unexpected. It's about process as much as product, revealing how chance doesn't diminish artistic intention but expands it.
In the experimental spirit of Fringe Arts Bath, this project honours risk-taking and discovery, creating a space where uncertainty isn't something to avoid, but something to work with and learn from.
The Curator would like to share these artworks as examples to illustrate their thinking:
Curator Brandon J. Barnard
Curated by Brandon J. Barnard
I’m Brandon J. Barnard, an experimental filmmaker and artist based in Plymouth, UK. I’m currently doing a PhD on ‘Chance in Filmmaking’, exploring how randomness and restrictions can spark creativity.
In my works I use arbitrary prompts and rules to push my projects in unexpected directions. I’m way more interested in the process of creation than the finished piece.
I enjoy documenting my art journey through articles and diagrams, following how seemingly inconsequential moments in life often matter the most.
insta @nihilisticku
brandonjohnbarnard.com
linkedin.com/in/brandon-j-barnard
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 chance@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.