The festival has developed a ‘slow burn’ programming model centred around developing and commissioning new works specific to the city, alongside national and international touring works reworked for Birmingham. FWD is a professional development programme that sits within the wider festival.
Eleven artists were selected to receive a £500 micro bursary and professional support in developing a new project. The following artists were selected for Fierce FWD 2017: Emily Warner, Benedict Stewardson, James Harris, Louisa Robbin, Malik Nashad Sharpe, Myah Jeffers, Kaye Winwood & Olivia Winteringham, Sean Burns, Suriya Aisha, Thomas Doherty, and Vivian Chinasa Ezugha.
Three FWD projects have been selected for presentation as part of Fierce Festival in October 2017: to care by Louisa Robbin, $elfie$ by Marikiscrycrycry (Malik Nashad Sharpe) and Be the Change: An Edwardian Tearoom Late by Vivian Chinasa Ezugha and collaborators.