It really has been an amazing three weeks packed full of excitement and entertainment. I've loved being a volunteer for the festival. I’ve met some amazing people who have been so vibrant and energetic that I will never forget them! Let me guide you through what I got up to in my final week… Fierce youth Fierce’s Youth Panel, another brainchild of creative genius Andrew Tims, was made up of 20 students from four Birmingham schools (Handsworth Grammar, Harborne Hill Secondary, Queensbridge and St Albans Schools).
 | | Michael Pinchbeck |
They were granted a unique opportunity to work together as a team to commission a piece of work from an artist for the festival. The project spanned two years, taking the students across the country to experience and understand contemporary art, and to get a real feel for the work involved in the creative process. The students chose Michael Pinchbeck, who created a highly emotive and powerful piece, focusing on the personal struggle of the artist. The Long and Winding Road The Long and Winding Road, is a journey that perhaps in one way or another we have all taken or seen a close friend take. It is about the experience of loss, memory, mourning and recovery. It follows the artist as he drives from Nottingham to Liverpool to collect his brother’s belongings. Pinchbeck’s brother died in an accident in 1998. The Students worked with Pinchbeck to produce a solo performance piece that would take place between the artist and guests outside the Ikon Gallery.
 | | Outside the Ikon Gallery |
As I arrived at the Ikon, I saw a car parked outside. The car had been heavily spray-painted and was packed full of brown paper parcels. On the side of the car sprawled the title of the project. This is the car that took Pinchbeck to Liverpool and back. Prior to the event the artist and 5 students held a discussion in the Gallery to talk about the project. It was great to see the students so animated and passionate about the project. As the performances began it was my role to schedule each performance and take visitors to the car. Luckily I got the opportunity to ‘take a ride’ with Pinchbeck myself and it was hard not to cry. As I sat down next to him he offered me a travel sweet and told me the story of his journey, his eyes penetrating my soul, not directly but gazing at me through the rear view mirror.
 | | Michael Pinchbeck |
The parcels were his brother’s belongings and each had their own personal registration number. Later in discussion with the artist I learnt of the fate of the car, it is going to be immersed in the Mersey and then withdrawn, crushed and cut into cubes and distributed to the people that made this project happen. Other guest’s comments: "The event was a whole new experience for me as I’ve never done anything like this before. I enjoyed every moment" 5/5. "Emotional, Loving and Caring" 5/5. "Distant story, yet intimate setting…very personal story – I wanted to open the parcels!" 4/5 The Closing Party I made my way over to the Pink Flamingo on Sunday for the closing party of the Fierce Festival. I had never seen or heard of the venue before and all that I did know through Fierce was to expect the unexpected!
 | | Spiderwoman |
Standing outside the big black doors of the pink building I nervously pressed the buzzer. I managed to convince the edgy female voice that streamed out of the little metal box that I was there for Fierce and soon the doors swung open and I was guided inside to the dark sultry enclaves of the Flamingo. It was a gem of a place. It had a real sleazy feel to it, elegant booths with opulent yet tacky chandeliers - the theme colours being blood red, burnt gold and black. I was appointed the task of decorating the dressing rooms - staple-gunning masses of blue fabric to the ceilings and arranging mirrors. A real buzz The technical staff were setting up the outside stage where many of the performances would take place, and the artists working in the booths were setting up their various instruments and decorations. There was a real buzz of anticipation in the air… So it began, the crowds arrived, including a bus of eager participant who'd come from London. I was taken aback by the variety of costumes and outfits on display. Visitors were invited to have their body parts covered in Gold Leaf and immortalised by a Polaroid, a first for me!
 | | The compare |
As the outside events began, visitors surged to the stage to watch the weird and wonderfully acts which included an amazing burlesque performance by an artist clad in a fantastic spider dress and a giant bunny rabbit holding balloons who removed his bunny head to tar and feather his real one. The compare for the evening was the Divine David, a Fierce favourite, whose tongue-lashings were both charming and scathing! Other performing artists included the amazing Ron Athey and the unforgettable Empress Stah, who later paraded around the venue in a swarm of gold glitter to the delight of the punters. All in all it was a truly unique and remarkable evening that was a superb end to a fantastic festival. You have to volunteer! To all of you out there looking to work in creative industries, I would highly recommend doing any volunteer work you can get your hands on! As I have learned it may not always be easy, and sometimes you can feel unappreciated and insignificant, but at the end of the day the experiences, people and networking make it a real must for anyone! Read Laura's other blogs Laura joins the Fierce team as a volunteer - and almost gets to go to the ball. Laura finds out that it's not easy dealing with creative people, but it's worth it. Laura discovers the upside to volunteering - hanging out with your favourite performers. Fierce Magic - Laura tells us about the perks of volunteering, as she meets her favourite performance artist Maria Carnesky. | 
