Gentle Shifts

Gentle Shifts invites artists to explore subtle, often unnoticed moments of change — particularly those that occur internally. The exhibition is centred on emotional movement, quiet transformation, and shifts in perception: moments of insight, fragility, realignment, or becoming.

We are especially interested in work that reflects interior states and personal transitions, whether fleeting or sustained. These shifts might relate to identity, memory, emotional recalibration, or private responses to lived experience. While the focus is on inner change, we remain open to broader interpretations where internal transformation is shaped by place, environment, or social context.

Rather than dramatic rupture, Gentle Shifts considers change as something gradual and accumulative — unfolding slowly, softly, and with resonance. Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme in ways that feel intuitive and personal, whether literal or abstract, narrative or atmospheric.

NB: this exhibition will be open for one weekend only
Fri 22 May 6-9pm / Sat 23 May 11am - 6pm / Sun 24 May 11am - 6pm
FaB festival continues 22 May to 6 June 2026.

The Curators would like to share these artworks as examples to illustrate their idea:

Curated by Kin Collective

Bath based collective, creating space for emerging artists.

insta @kin_art__

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: Painting, drawing, print-making, sculpture & textiles. (the capacity to show digital works in this exhibition space is limited)

• Free submission. All are welcome to apply, of any age, status, and from anywhere in the world.

• If selected, we ask Artists for (amount TBC for this exhibition) 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 shifts@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.