‘STAGED’ will be an exhibition to celebrate performance in all its forms, from music to magic. It will be curated as part of SWAF, Swindon Arts Fringe Festival, which is a non-profit, artist-led festival in the centre of Swindon from the 15th to 28th of June 2026. STAGED will be hung in the bar gallery at The Wyvern Theatre, where theatre-goers as well as festival visitors will enjoy the art. During the festival, there are a variety of fabulous shows drawing a unique audience, including BalletBoyz, Nigel Kennedy and Nikita from Strictly Come Dancing.

We are looking for artists who are passionate about performance to submit an idea or a piece they have already created for the exhibition ‘STAGED’.

Abstract or literal interpretations of the theme are welcomed. 

You could be inspired by your favourite music, band, words from a play or poem, or perhaps an actor, comedian, or magician.

You might be inspired by street theatre, musicals, dance, cabaret, or opera.

We are looking for expressive work which covers a broad range of performance genres.

Artwork can be in any medium, which can be wall-hung, such as, but not limited to: painting, mixed media, drawing, collage, ceramics, photography, digital, and textiles.

There is no cost to enter. The work can be for sale, but does not need to be.

If sold, please be aware that the festival requires a 10% commission.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Your art should not breach copyright in any way, including by copying photographs without consent.

Please fill in one submission form per artwork, up to 5 submissions. 

SIZE:

Max size – 1 metre along one side or square

Ideal size - 60 cm along one side, or squared.

Groups of smaller pieces by one artist will be considered.

HANGING

The work will need to either be strung with D rings or have a D ring to hook onto a nail. The hanging will need to be strong enough to support the weight of your work.

The wire or string should be fitted in the top third of the painting to aim for it to sit flat against the wall.

DATES:

Ideas, or finished pieces to be submitted by end of April. All works to be completed by end of May.

Delivery 12th June

Artwork will need to be delivered to The Wyvern Theatre on Friday, 12th June, from 11 am – 1 pm.

If you are unable to drop in during these times, you can make an alternative arrangement by contacting the curator directly at least a week in advance.

Festival dates: Mon 15th to Sun 28th June, exhibition extended to 9th July.

The first available date to take the artwork down is 10 days after the festival finishes on Thursday, 9th July, 11 am – 1 pm.

Please ensure that your artwork is available until this date.

If you are unable to collect during these times, you can make an alternative arrangement with the curator.

Any artwork which is not collected two weeks after this date will be disposed of.

About SWAF:

Swindon Arts Fringe Festival started in 2024 and is growing fast. It was created by Artsite,  which was founded in 1999.

Artsite set out to develop affordable studio space and act as a platform to showcase and support the visual and creative arts in Swindon.

Over the following 18 years, it has also come to play a vital role in the town's arts infrastructure.​

Artsite aims:

• To create a supportive environment in which artists are encouraged to develop their practice
• To provide an affordable, inclusive environment for the making and showing of art and for creative learning to use creativity to promote the health and well-being of the people of Swindon.

Where will the SWAF Festival exhibitions be and how will they be promoted?

SWAF will be centred around Artsite’s Post Modern gallery space, which is located close to The Wyvern Theatre.

It will also utilise otherwise empty spaces in the town centre and turn them into bustling galleries open to the public.  

Artsite will host a launch party at The Post Modern on Saturday, 13th June.

All SWAF exhibitions will be promoted through the SWAF festival website, local media and social media, as well as by Swindon Culture Collective, an arts network that was developed with a vision to establish Swindon as a vibrant festival destination and unlock new creative opportunities for artists, communities, and audiences.

The Curator Sheryll K Fox will be promoting the event through her social media, media contacts, website and mailing list.

The Wyvern Theatre is a popular local theatre which seats 635. During the festival it has a busy programme of performances, including shows which are likely to sell out, such BalletBoyz, Nigel Kennedy and Nikita from Strictly Come Dancing.

About the Curator:

Sheryll K Fox is a Swindon-based artist with passion and training in both Fine Art and Performing Arts. Sheryll is a resident visual artist at Swindon Dance, where their beautiful Grade II listed building is filled with her paintings.

Sheryll has organised two art exhibitions at Swindon’s Outlet Centre and was responsible for marketing Swindon Open Studios for three years.

She loves bringing together like-minded groups of creative people, and so curating an exhibition about performance through art felt like a great way to do that.