Birmingham Jewellery Biennial launches open call for UK-based makers

A new national jewellery festival has launched an open call inviting UK-based makers to exhibit at its flagship exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in 2027.

Held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the Birmingham Jewellery Biennial will explore the theme of ‘colour’, with organisers seeking pieces that demonstrate creative design, technical skill and an innovative use of materials.

Selected jewellery makers will be invited to exhibit as part of the festival’s flagship showcase, which aims to highlight the role of jewellery as both a form of art and a means of storytelling through making, wearing and viewing.

The call is open to practitioners of all career stages, with no entry fee required, with organisers also covering transport costs of selected works.

Three prizes will be awarded as part of the exhibition, with first place receiving £2,000, the second-place artist receiving £1,500 while the People’s Choice Award winner will also receive £2,000.

The expert jury brings together leading experts from across the industry including designers, makers, retailers, journalists and educators, who will be specifically looking for entries that experiment with, take inspiration from or explore the stories and symbolism of colour.

Jury members include Hannah Martin, Joanna Hardy, Mimi Hoppen, Naomi Newton-Sherlock and Ben Massey, chief executive of the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), among others.

Sophie Morris, exhibition curator, 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.”

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.