BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
ENTRIES OPEN
Exhibition Dates: May 1 – May 29, 2026
Private View: May 1, 6–8pm
The Narrative: A City of Two Halves
Birmingham is a city built on iron, brick, concrete and industry, the unmistakable “Beast” of our heritage. From the red‑brick factories of the Jewellery Quarter to the silent warehouses of Digbeth, these structures shape our skyline and our identity.
But Birmingham is also one of Europe’s greenest cities. With over 6 million trees and over 550 parks, nature is constantly pushing back, reclaiming, softening, and reshaping the urban landscape.
“Beauty and the Beast” explores that collision.
Birmingham breathes.
Ten minutes from the city centre, you can find yourself in some of the greenest spaces in the UK. From the vast landscapes of Sutton Park to childhood afternoons in Cannon Hill, or the softened edges of St Paul’s Square, nature is always pushing back, reshaping, reclaiming.
This exhibition invites artists to explore that friction. We’re looking for:
• A buddleia stubbornly claiming its space on a Digbeth warehouse wall.
• Moss softening the hard edge of a concrete underpass.
• The tension between a skyline of cranes and a canopy of ancient trees.
• The resilience of the organic against the built environment.
And while the interstice is a powerful example of this duality, it’s not a limitation. Artists are welcome to respond on any scale, from sweeping cityscapes to intimate details, from conceptual interpretations to material explorations. The theme is the full Beauty‑and‑Beast spectrum, not just the small moments where the two meet. It speaks to the universal push‑and‑pull between the man‑made and the organic, the grit and the growth that shape every modern landscape.
The Brief
Respond to the duality of the city, the grit and the green, the underpasses and the undergrowth, the noise and the nature, but don’t feel tied to literal scenery or obvious pairings.
We actively encourage you not to take the theme at face value. This isn’t a landscape exhibition. Your work doesn’t need to depict a tree beside a building or a straightforward city‑meets‑nature moment. You can explore atmosphere, emotion, character, memory, material, or mood. If your piece captures the essence of that Beauty‑and‑Beast collision, the clash, the coexistence, the push‑and‑pull, it belongs here.
When you submit, tell us the thinking and feeling behind your piece. We’re as interested in the story, the intention, and the interpretation as we are in the final artwork.
The Prize: The Featured Artist Award
One standout artist will be selected by our Directors for a professional development spotlight designed to help build momentum in their practice.
The winner receives:
• A 4‑week physical feature in the gallery following the show.
• Dedicated social media campaign, inclusion on gallery website, blog feature and mentorship.
How to Submit
Open to artists aged 18+ working in any medium. We would love to see paintings, prints, photography, textiles, installations, video, ceramics, sculpture and jewellery. Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss your idea.
Maximum of three artworks per artist.
Submission Fees:
• 1 artwork: £20
• 2 artworks: £30
• 3 artworks: £40
• Commission on sales: 20% gallery / 80% artist
Email Your Submission To: hello@svnthcrcl.com
Subject line: Your Name – Beauty and the Beast Submission – Order Number
Include in your email:
• Title, size (cm), medium, and price of each artwork
• Artist biography and a 125‑word statement on how your work relates to the theme
• Clear images of the artwork
Artwork Requirements
• Flat works: max 80cm on the longest edge
• 3D works: must be stable and manageable up a staircase (gallery is first floor)
• All work must arrive ready‑to‑hang with D‑rings or wire securely attached
• Unprepared work cannot be displayed
Framing Services: Optional on‑site professional framing is available for a fee. Details will be provided to selected artists.
Important:
All fees are non‑refundable and cover administration, curation, and marketing. Incomplete submissions may not be reviewed.
KEY DATES
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (Midnight)
SUBMISSION EXTENDED TO WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL (MIDNIGHT)
Notification of Selection: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Delivery Dates: April 24, 25, 26 (10am – 5pm)
Exhibition Run: May 1 – May 29, 2026
Private View: Friday, May 1 (6pm – 8pm)