Birmingham Jewellery Biennial launches open call for flagship exhibition

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The open call for the UK’s brand new jewellery festival’s flagship exhibition will offer jewellery practitioners from across the UK the chance to exhibit at the world-renowned Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and to win thousands of pounds.

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Ahead of May 2027’s inaugural Birmingham Jewellery Biennial, organisers have launched the open call for the flagship exhibition, giving jewellery practitioners from across the UK the chance to exhibit alongside internationally recognised names in one of the country’s great civic museums.

The exhibition theme has been revealed as ‘Colour’, with organisers and the expert jury looking for ambitious, statement work that responds to the theme while demonstrating creative design, technical excellence and quality of materials.

Held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the exhibition will invite audiences to discover and celebrate the extraordinary world of jewellery, using colour as a lens to explore the making, wearing, gifting and viewing of jewellery.

The expert jury, made up of leading experts from the jewellery industry, will be looking for entries thatexperiment with, take inspiration from, or explore the stories and symbolism of colour, welcoming works in traditional and contemporary materials, across a broad range of jewellery-making techniques.

The artist in first place will receive £2,000, the second place artist will be awarded £1,500, and following the exhibition, the People's Choice Award winner will receive £2,000. Further prizes will be announced in due course.

The open call is for practitioners at any career stage and there is no fee to enter. Applications are open via the Birmingham Jewellery Biennial website until 6 September 2026. Organisers are also covering the transport costs of all selected works.

Exhibition Curator, Sophie Morris, said: “The exhibition is such an exciting opportunity to celebrate the mix of skills, materials and ideas that constitute jewellery-making now. We are seeking colourful, ambitious and meaningful works that demonstrate artistic excellence, inspire new makers and welcome people into the extraordinary world of jewellery and the joy it brings.”

The Jury comprises 12 leading figures in the jewellery industry, including:

Alistair Audsley, Co-founder & CEO, Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers
Hannah Martin, internationally recognised designer, consultant and jeweller, whose work has been worn by celebrities including FKA Twigs and Madonna
Joanna Hardy, Gemmologist and Fine Jewellery Specialist who regularly appears on BBC Antiques Roadshow
Lee Lapthorne, artist, Creative Director and Director of Creative Partnerships at Birmingham City University, whose clients include Gucci, JLR and Vogue
Manish Jogia, Managing Director of MJ Group Holdings, whose portfolio includes Jewellery Quarter businesses such as Sonny's Jewellery and Newey's Jewellers
Mimi Hoppen, Global Director of Jewellery & Watches at Dover Street Market International
Melanie Eddy, acclaimed Sculptural Jeweller and Lecturer at Birmingham City University's School of Jewellery
Muriel Piaser, international creative consultant and founder of Muriel Piaser Consulting & Precious Room
Naomi Newton-Sherlock, Creative Director at Weston Beamor
Rachael Taylor, British jewellery and watch journalist, author and editor
Rajesh Gogna, Precious Metalwork Artist and former Chairman of the Association of Contemporary British Silversmiths

Supporting the Jury in a non-voting remit will be Ben Massey the Chief Executive of the National Association of Jewellers, Rebecca Unsworth, Curator of Decorative Art at Birmingham Museums Trust, Matthew Bott, the Chair of Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, and Birmingham Jewellery Biennial’s Festival Director and City Curator, Alex Nicholson-Evans.

Birmingham Jewellery Biennial was announced earlier this year, following the city’s recognition as a World Craft City for Jewellery and Allied Trades by the World Crafts Council in 2025.

Co-founded by Jewellery Quarter Development Trust and Birmingham City University, Birmingham Jewellery Biennial is set to become the UK's leading festival dedicated to the art, innovation and heritage of jewellery. Alongside the flagship exhibition, the city will be brought to life with Open Studios, workshops, talks, tours and more! The festival takes place across Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and the wider city from 1-31 May 2027.

The open call is free to enter and open to jewellery artists and makers at any career stage based in the UK. Applications are open now, with the deadline for Expressions of Interest set for 6 September 2026.

Full details on how to apply are available at www.birminghamjewellerybiennial.com/open-call

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