NextGen
Perform. Create. Be Valley.
Valley Fest is opening its stages, cameras and creative spaces to the next generation of local talent. NextGen is our flagship programme giving students from Bath, Bristol and beyond the creative arts launchpad they’ve been looking for to catalyse their careers — whether you study music, film or movement.
Your Work. Live. For Real.
A unique, accreditation-eligible opportunity for university students to bring their creative practice to one of the UK’s most loved summer festivals — performing live sets, producing the official aftermovie and delivering site-specific dance performances to a real, paying audience. This isn’t a work experience placement. You’ll be a credited artist and collaborator.
Three Disciplines
Live sets up to 20 minutes
- Perform curated live sets of up to 20 minutes on programmed stages
- Appear on programmed stages and pop-up performance spaces
- Solo, group or collaborative performances all welcome
- All genres considered — acoustic, electronic, jazz, folk, experimental and beyond
Suits: performance, production and professional practice modules
The official 2027 aftermovie
- Produce the 10–20 minute official Valley Fest 2027 aftermovie
- Capture performances, behind-the-scenes activity and interviews
- Create short-form edits for digital and social release
- Outputs suitable for final projects, dissertations and portfolios
Suits: final projects, dissertations and portfolio work
Stage & site-specific performance
- Deliver stage-based and site-specific performances across the festival
- Collaborate with music and film students for integrated outputs
- Feature in filmed performances and promotional content
Suits: choreography, performance and creative research modules
Learning & Assessment Value
Real deadlines
Live briefs with real deadlines from our programming and production teams.
Real collaboration
Work alongside music, film and dance students on genuine collaborative projects.
Portfolio-ready
Work published on our official platforms and channels.
References & exposure
Formal references, credits and exposure from the Valley Fest production team.
Who Can Apply
- Currently enrolled at a UK university or college on a creative arts, music, film, media, dance or related course
- Music students: able to perform a curated live set of up to 20 minutes (solo, duo or group)
- Film & media students: able to lead or contribute to a short-form documentary or aftermovie production
- Dance students: able to devise and deliver a stage-based or site-specific performance
- Available to attend Valley Fest, 29 July – 1 August 2027
- Open to cross-disciplinary collaboration — we actively encourage cross-department applications
Key Dates
- NowApplications open Apply online any time before the deadline.
- 31 MayApplication deadline All applications in by midnight on 31 May 2027.
- Late JuneSelections announced Successful applicants contacted with full programme details.
- JulyPre-festival briefings Online and in-person sessions with the Valley Fest creative team.
- 29 Jul – 1 AugValley Fest 2027 Four days of performances, filming and creative collaboration in the valley.
Your Art. Our Festival.
Four short steps. Places are strictly limited across music, film and dance, and the deadline is 31 May 2027 — don’t leave it late.